Methods and means for modification of glucosinolates in plants

ABSTRACT

GSL-ELONGASE gene of  Arabidopsis thaliana  and other plants, especially  Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa  and  Brassica napus . The nature and level of glucosinolates in plants can be modified by transgenic expression of the genes or control of the level of expression.

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB98/03525, filed Nov. 23, 1998, which claims priority from GB 9724691.2, filed Nov. 21, 1997.

The present invention relates generally to modification of glucosinolates in plants and has arisen on the basis of cloning of GSL-ELONGASE gene alleles of Arabidopsis thaliana, and identification of homologues in other species, especially Brassicas.

Experimental evidence provided herein demonstrates regulation of the length of aliphatic glucosinolate (GSL) side chains by a Mendelian gene which is coincident with the major QTL which regulates the level of aliphatic glucosinolates. Two genes are identified in Arabidopsis which have similar function in catalysing the condensation of methionine and the elongated form of methionine with acetyl CoA, this reaction being important for the elongation of aliphatic glucosinolates. Homologues are identified in Brassicas.

The present invention provides for reduction or increase in GSL levels in plants, and the ability to engineer novel glucosinolates (e.g. in Brassica) with long side chains.

This allows for production of better seed quality (e.g. in Brassica napus), increase of anticarcinogenic GSL's in horticultural Brassicas, and enhancement of herbivore and pathogen resistance in both horticultural and oilseed Brassicas.

Glucosinolates are important secondary metabolites which determine seed quality of oilseed crucifers anticarcinogenic activity and flavour of horticultural crucifers and herbivore and pathogen interaction with crucifers. The major class of glucosinolates in many crucifers are aliphatic glucosinolates derived from methionine.

The biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates can be considered in three parts. Firstly, the initial entry of methionine into glucosinolate biosynthesis and the development of chain elongation homologues of methionine, secondly the synthesis of the glycone moiety, and thirdly side chain modifications (FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 18).

The GSL-ELONGASE gene provided by the present invention may be used to modify biosynthesis of glusosinolates, preferably the first of these three parts of biosynthesis, namely the initial entry of methionine and subsequent chain elongation.

The first part of biosynthesis involves the development of a series of chain elongated homologues of methionine via the sequential addition of a methyl group. These side chain elongated amino acids form the precursors to aliphatic glucosinolates of varying side chain lengths.

The elongation process involves the conversion of the amino acid to an α-keto acid via a transaminase, condensation of the α-keto acid with acetyl coA, isomerization involving a shift of the hydroxy group and conversion of the elongated α-keto acid back to an amino acid. Sequential rounds of elongation may involve condensation of acetyl CoA to the elongated α-keto acid without conversion back to an amino acid during each round of elongation.

Evidence of this pathway was provided by Chisholm and Wetter (Can J Biochem (1964) 42 1033-1040) who fed a number of labelled compounds including labelled methionine and acetate to Armoracia lapathifolia. They showed that the thiohydoximate carbon of the 2-propenyl glucosinolate was derived from the methyl carbon of acetate, and the carbon in the 2-propenyl side chain was derived from methionine. This indicates that acetate (acetyl-CoA) is the donor of the methyl group for chain elongation. On the basis of these results, Chisholm and Wetter (1964) proposed that 2-propenyl glucosinolate arises from homomethionine formed from methionine and acetate via a chain lengthening pathway similar to the formation of leucine from valine and acetate (Strassman M and Ceci L (1963) J Biol Chem 238 2445-2452).

Further evidence for this pathway was provided by Chisholm and Wetter (Can J Biochem (1966) 44 1625-1632) and Matsuo M and Yamazaki M (Biochem Biophys Res Comm (1966) 24 786-791. Both groups reported that [2-¹⁴C]homomethionine was incorporated with greater efficiency than [2-¹⁴]methionine into 2-propenyl glucosinolate, and that the activity from the higher homologue was specifically incorporated into the thiohydroxymate carbon. Chisholm and Wetter (Plant Physiol (1967) 42 1762-1730) also provided evidence that the longer side chain glucosinolates, 3-butenyl and 4-pentenyl glucosinolates were derived from 2-amino-6-methylthiohexanoic acid (‘dihomomethionine’) and 2-amino-7-methylthioheptanoic acid (‘tri-homomethionine’). It was suggested that each of these amino acids arise from methionine by multiple chain extensions via condensation of their respective α-keto acids with the methyl carbon of acetate. Further support for this pathway comes from the studies of Lee and Sherif (Biochem Biophys Acta (1968) 165 569-571; Biochemistry (1970) 9 2068-2071) and Josefsson (Physiol Plant (1971) 24 161-175) who showed that 2-amino-6-methylthiohexanoic acid was the precursor of 3-butenyl glucosinolate.

Another class of chain elongated glucosinolates are those with aromatic side chains derived from phenylalanine, the most common of which is phenylethyl glucosinolate. Underhill et al (Can J Biochem Physiol (1964) 40 1505-1514; Can J Biochem (1965) 43 179-187) provided evidence from labelling studies that the chain elongation process follows a similar route to that of aliphatic glucosinolates.

Another class of glucosinolates which arise from a chain elongating process are branched chained glucosinolates, including isopropyl GSI, isobutyl GSL, sec butyl GSL, 2-methylbutyl GSL, 3-methylbutyl GSI, 2, ethylbutyl GSL and 2-methyloctyl GSL. These may be derived from the amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine.

In different embodiments, the present invention provides for manipulation of total levels of glucosinolates in plants such as oilseeds and horticultural crucifers through modification of glucosinolate biosynthesis, e.g. by up or down regulating the initial entry of methionine into glucosinolate biosynthesis. The present invention also provides for modification of the extent of chain elongation through the use of gene alleles, mutants and variants. This enables modifications to be made to meal quality of oilseeds crucifers, anticarcinogenic activity and flavour of horticultural crucifers, and/or resistance to herbivores and pathogens.

The most important crops for modification of meal quality are oilseed forms of B.napus, B.rapa (syn B.campestris), B.juncea, B.carinata, Eruca sativa. For enhancement of flavour and anticarcinogenic properties the most important species are B.oleracea, horticultural forms of B.napus (e.g. swedes) and B.rapa (including both turnips and chinese cabbage), and horticultural forms of Raphanus, Eruca, Rorripa and other similar salad crops. Glucosinolates may also be modified in condiment mustard forms of B.juncea. All of these species are targets for enhancement of pest and disease resistance via glucosinolate modification. Modifications for enhanced disease and pest resistance includes modifications to leaf and root glucosinolates to enhance the biofumigation potential of crucifers when used as geen manures and as break crops in cereal rotations.

The present invention provides a nucleic acid isolate encoding a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) for Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE, which may include the coding sequence shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) which are of the GSL-ELONGASE gene of Arabidopsis thaliana, genomic and cDNA sequences respectively.

Allelic forms of the GSL-ELONGASE gene have been identified. Two allelic forms have been termed GSL-ELONGASE NORTH and GSL-ELONGASE SOUTH. A polypeptide including the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) is provided by one aspect of the invention, along with encoding nucleic acid as disclosed. Further aspects provide a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3), including the amino acid sequence of FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) and additional N-terminal amino acids, and a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:4), also encoding nucleic acid such as including the respective coding sequences shown in FIGS. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2), 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) and 16 (SEQ ID NO:9).

Nucleic acid according to the present invention may have the sequence of the GSL-ELONGASE gene of Arabidopsis thaliana as indicated in a figure herein, or be a mutant, variant, derivative or allele or a homologue of the sequence provided. Preferred mutants, variants, derivatives and alleles are those which encode a protein which retains a functional characteristic of the protein encoded by the wild-type gene, especially the ability to catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA, and/or modify glucosinolate biosynthesis in a plant, such as Arabidopsis thaliana.

A mutant, variant, derivative, allele or homologue in accordance with the present invention may have the ability to affect a physical characteristic of a plant, particularly glucosinolate biosynthesis and/or character as discussed.

Polynucleotides which are not 100% identical to the sequences shown herein but fall within the scope of the invention can be obtained in a number of ways.

Other Arabidopsis variants (for example allelic forms) of the gene described herein may be obtained for example by probing cDNA or genomic DNA libraries made from Arabidopsis plants or cells.

In addition, other plant, monocot or dicot, homologues of the gene may be obtained. Such sequences may be obtained by making or obtaining cDNA libraries made from dividing cells or tissues or genomic DNA libraries from other plant species, and probing such libraries with probes comprising all or part of a nucleic acid of the invention under conditions of medium to high stringency (for example for hybridization on a solid support (filter) overnight incubation at 42° C. in a solution containing 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mM NaCl, 75 mM sodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH7.6), 5× Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulphate and 20 μg/ml salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing in 0.03 M sodium chloride and 0.03 M sodium citrate (i.e. 0.2×SSC) at from about 50° C. to about 60° C.).

Thus the present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid which hybridizes to the nucleotide sequence shown in a figure herein under the above mentioned hybridization and washing conditions. Such a nucleic acid is suitable for use as a probe for detecting the GSL ELONG gene, for example in Southern blots or in metaphase spreads.

Suitable probe and primer sequences are disclosed herein.

Alternatively, polynucleotides of the invention may be obtained by site directed mutagenesis of the sequences of shown in the figures or allelic variants thereof. This may be useful where for example silent codon changes are required to sequences to optimise codon preferences for a particular host cell in which the polynucleotide sequences are being expressed. Other sequence changes may be desired in order to introduce restriction enzyme recognition sites, or to alter the property or function of the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides. Further changes may be desirable to represent particular coding changes which are required to provide, for example, conservative substitutions.

In the context of cloning, it may be necessary for one or more gene fragments to be ligated to generate a full-length coding sequence. Also, where a full-length encoding nucleic acid molecule has not been obtained, a smaller molecule representing part of the full molecule, may be used to obtain full-length clones. Inserts may be prepared from partial cDNA clones and used to screen cDNA libraries. The full-length clones isolated may be subcloned into expression vectors and activity assayed by transfection into suitable host cells, e.g. with a reporter plasmid.

The present invention also extends to nucleic acid comprising transcriptional control sequences for the GSL ELONG gene. Such control sequences will be found 5′ to the open reading frame of the gene and are obtainable by probing a genomic DNA library with a nucleic acid of the invention, selecting a clone which hybridizes under conditions of medium to high stringency, and sequencing the clone 5′ to the open reading frame of the gene. Where only a small amount of sequence is present in the 5′ region, this sequence may be used to reprobe the library to genome walk further upstream. Analysis of the upstream region will reveal control regions for gene expression including control regions common to many genes (i.e TATA and CAAT boxes) and other control regions, usually located from 1 to 10,000, such as 1 to 1000 or 50 to 500 nucleotides upstream of the start of transcription.

To confirm that such regions are the control regions of the gene, they may be linked to a reported gene (such as β-galactosidase) and tested in any suitable in vitro or in vivo system. For example the construct of the control region (e.g. comprising 50 to 500 nucleotides upstream of the start of transcription) and the reporter gene may be used to produce a transgenic plant and the pattern of expression, both spatially and developmentally, may be compared with that of the GSL ELONGASE gene. Where substantially similar patterns of expression are found, this shows that the construct comprises substantially all of the control region of the wild type gene.

FIG. 16 shows the nucleotide sequence of the GSL ELONGASE SOUTH genomic region including promoter.

The control region may be mutated to identify specific subregions responsible for transcriptional control. This may be achieved by a number of techniques well known in the art as such, including DNase protection footprint assays, in which the control region is brought into contact with an extract from a cell in which the GSL ELONGASE gene is actively expressed, and the regions of the control region which bind factors in that extract is determined.

Isolated nucleic acid comprising such control regions obtainable by such a method form a further aspect of the present invention.

The present invention further extends to genomic DNA exon sequences found between the introns encoding a GSL ELONGASE gene in plant. Such exon sequences may be obtained in a manner analogous to that described above for the transcriptional control sequences, with the appropriate genome walking being conducted between the intron sequences. The locations of the exons may be determined by comparing genomic and cDNA sequences of the gene, observing where the sequences line up and diverge, and looking for consensus splice sequences which define intron/exon boundaries.

FIGS. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2), 13 (SEQ ID NO:7) and 16 (SEQ ID NO:9) show genomic sequences including exons of the invention.

As noted above, changes to a sequence, to produce a mutant, variant or derivative, may be by one or more of addition, insertion, deletion or substitution of one or more nucleotides in the nucleic acid, leading to the addition, insertion, deletion or substitution of one or more amino acids in the encoded polypeptide. Of course, changes to the nucleic acid which make no difference to the encoded amino acid sequence are included.

Preferred nucleic acid sequences according to the present invention are shown in the figures, for instance see FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5) of which the predicted encoded amino acid sequence of a polypeptide according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1).

A mutant, allele, variant or derivative amino acid sequence in accordance with the present invention may include within the sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1), FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3) or FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:4), a single amino acid change with respect to the sequence shown in the relevant figure, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 changes, about 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 or 50 changes, or greater than about 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 changes. In addition to one or more changes within the amino acid sequence shown in the relevant figure, a mutant, allele, variant or derivative amino acid sequence may include additional amino acids at the C-terminus and/or N-terminus.

A sequence related to a sequence specifically disclosed herein shares homology with that sequence. Homology may be at the nucleotide sequence and/or amino acid sequence level.

Preferably, the nucleic acid and/or amino acid sequence shares homology with the coding sequence or the sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence of a figure herein, for instance FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5) or FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2), preferably at least about 50%, or 60%, or 70%, or 80% homology, most preferably at least about 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% homology.

As is well-understood, homology at the amino acid level is generally in terms of amino acid similarity or identity. Similarity allows for “conservative variation”, i.e. substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another, such as arginine for lysine, glutamic for aspartic acid, or glutamine for asparagine. Similarity may be as defined and determined by the TBLASTN program, of Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-10, which is in standard use in the art, or, and this may be preferred, either of the standard programs BestFit and GAP, which are part of the Wisconsin Package, Version 8, September 1994, (Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis., USA, Wisconsin 53711). BestFit makes an optimal alignment of the best segment of similarity between two sequences. Optimal alignments are found by inserting gaps to maximize the number of matches using the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Advances in Applied Mathematics (1981) 2, pp. 482-489). GAP uses the Needleman and Wunsch algorithm to align two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps. Generally, the default parameters are used, with a gap creation penalty=12 and gap extension penalty=4.

Homology is generally over the full-length of the relevant sequence shown herein, that is unless stated otherwise, or it may be over a contiguous sequence of about or greater than about 20, 25, 30, 33, 40, 50, 67, 133, 167, 200, 233, 267, 300, 333, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600 or more amino acids or codons, compared with the relevant amino acid sequence or nucleotide sequence as the case may be.

Nucleic acid according to the present invention may consist essentially of or consist of the relevant coding sequence. Nucleic acid according to the present invention may include a promoter or other regulatory sequence as discussed further elsewhere herein, and such regulatory sequence may be heterologous to the coding sequence, that is to say not naturally operably linked therewith. Nucleic acid according to the present invention may be cDNA or lacking one or more introns which occur naturally, or may be in any non-naturally occurring form. A coding sequence in accordance with the present invention may be included with a larger nucleic acid molecule of less than about 10,000 nucleotides, less than about 5,000 nucleotides or less than about 2,000 nucleotides.

Also provided by an aspect of the present invention is nucleic acid including or consisting essentially of a sequence of nucleotides complementary to a nucleotide sequence hybridisable with any encoding sequence provided herein. Another way of looking at this would be for nucleic acid according to this aspect to be hybridisable with a nucleotide sequence complementary to any encoding sequence provided herein. Of course, DNA is generally double-stranded and blotting techniques such as Southern hybridisation are often performed following separation of the strands without a distinction being drawn between which of the strands is hybridising. Preferably the hybridisable nucleic acid or its complement encode a product able to influence a physical characteristic of a plant, particularly glucosinolate content and/or nature, and/or catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA. Preferred conditions for hybridisation are familiar to those skilled in the art, but are generally stringent enough for there to be positive hybridisation between the sequences of interest to the exclusion of other sequences.

The nucleic acid, which may contain for example DNA encoding a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) or other polypeptide disclosed herein, as genomic or cDNA, may be in the form of a recombinant and preferably replicable vector, for example a plasmid, cosmid, phage or Agrobacterium binary vector. The nucleic acid may be under the control of an appropriate promoter or other regulatory elements for expression in a host cell such as a microbial, e.g. bacterial, or plant cell. In the case of genomic DNA, this may contain its own promoter or other regulatory elements and in the case of cDNA this may be under the control of an appropriate promoter or other regulatory elements for expression in the host cell.

A vector including nucleic acid according to the present invention need not include a promoter or other regulatory sequence, particularly if the vector is to be used to introduce the nucleic acid into cells for recombination into the genome.

Those skilled in the art are well able to construct vectors and design protocols for recombinant gene expression. Suitable vectors can be chosen or constructed, containing appropriate regulatory sequences, including promoter sequences, terminator fragments, polyadenylation sequences, enhancer sequences, marker genes and other sequences as appropriate. For further details see, for example, Molecular Cloning: a Laboratory Manual: 2nd edition, Sambrook et al, 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Many known techniques and protocols for manipulation of nucleic acid, for example in preparation of nucleic acid constructs, mutagenesis, sequencing, introduction of DNA into cells and gene expression, and analysis of proteins, are described in detail in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Second Edition, Ausubel et al. eds., John Wiley & Sons, 1992. The disclosures of Sambrook et al. and Ausubel et al. are incorporated herein by reference. Specific procedures and vectors previously used with wide success upon plants are described by Bevan (Nucl. Acids Res. 12, 8711-8721 (1984)) and Guerineau and Mullineaux (1993) (Plant transformation and expression vectors. In: Plant Molecular Biology Labfax (Croy RRD ed) Oxford, BIOS Scientific Publishers, pp 121-148).

Selectable genetic markers may be used consisting of chimaeric genes that confer selectable phenotypes such as resistance to antibiotics such as kanamycin, hygromycin, phosphinotricin, chlorsulfuron, methotrexate, gentamycin, spectinomycin, imidazolinones and glyphosate.

Vector constructs according to the present invention may include the GSL-ELONG sense and antisense sequences included in the constructs illustrated schematically in FIG. 19. Representative or preferred embodiments of constructs according to the present invention are shown schematically in FIG. 19. The person skilled in the art will readily recognise that alternative promoters, terminators and other components may be substituted for any of those in any of the illustrated constructs.

Nucleic acid molecules and vectors according to the present invention may be provided isolated and/or purified from their natural environment, in substantially pure or homogeneous form, or free or substantially free of nucleic acid or genes of the species of interest or origin other than the sequence encoding a polypeptide with the required function. Nucleic acid according to the present invention may include cDNA, RNA, genomic DNA and may be wholly or partially synthetic. The term “isolate” encompasses all these possibilities. Where a DNA sequence is specified, e.g. with reference to a figure, unless context requires otherwise the RNA equivalent, with U substituted for T where it occurs, is encompassed.

When introducing a chosen gene construct into a cell, certain considerations must be taken into account, well known to those skilled in the art. The nucleic acid to be inserted should be assembled within a construct which contains effective regulatory elements which will drive transcription. There must be available a method of transporting the construct into the cell. Once the construct is within the cell membrane, integration into the endogenous chromosomal material either will or will not occur. Finally, as far as plants are concerned the target cell type must be such that cells can be regenerated into whole plants.

Plants transformed with the DNA segment containing the sequence may be produced by standard techniques which are already known for the genetic manipulation of plants. DNA can be transformed into plant cells using any suitable technology, such as a disarmed Ti-plasmid vector carried by Agrobacterium exploiting its natural gene transfer ability (EP-A-270355, EP-A-0116718, NAR 12(22) 8711-87215 1984), particle or microprojectile bombardment (U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,792, EP-A-444882, EP-A-434616) microinjection (WO 92/09696, WO 94/00583, EP 331083, EP 175966, Green et al. (1987) Plant Tissue and Cell Culture, Academic Press), electroporation (EP 290395, WO 8706614) other forms of direct DNA uptake (DE 4005152, WO 9012096, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,611), liposome mediated DNA uptake (e.g. Freeman et al. Plant Cell Physiol. 29: 1353 (1984)), or the vortexing method (e.g. Kindle, PNAS U.S.A. 87; 1228 (1990d) Physical methods for the transformation of plant cells are reviewed in Oard, 1991, Biotech. Adv. 9: 1-11.

Agrobacterium transformation is widely used by those skilled in the art to transform dicotyledonous species. There are various approaches used for the routine production of stable, fertile transgenic plants in almost all economically relevant monocot plants (Toriyama, et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6, 1072-1074; Zhang, et al. (1988) Plant Cell Rep. 7, 379-384; Zhang, et al. (1988) Theor Appl Genet 76, 835-840; Shimamoto, et al. (1989) Nature 338, 274-276; Datta, et al. (1990) Bio/Technology 8, 736-740; Christou, et al. (1991) Bio/Technology 9, 957-962; Peng, et al. (1991) International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines 563-574; Cao, et al. (1992) Plant Cell Rep. 11, 585-591; Li, et al. (1993) Plant Cell Rep. 12, 250-255; Rathore, et al. (1993) Plant Molecular Biology 21, 871-884; Fromm, et al. (1990) Bio/Technology 8, 833-839; Gordon-Kamm, et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2, 603-618; D'Halluin, et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4, 1495-1505; Walters, et al. (1992) Plant Molecular Biology 18, 189-200; Koziel, et al. (1993) Biotechnology 11, 194-200; Vasil, I. K. (1994) Plant Molecular Biology 25, 925-937; Weeks, et al. (1993) Plant Physiology 102, 1077-1084; Somers, et al. (1992) Bio/Technology 10, 1589-1594; WO92/14828). In particular, Agrobacterium mediated transformation is now emerging also as an highly efficient alternative transformation method in monocots (Hiei et al. (1994) The Plant Journal 6, 271-282).

The generation of fertile transgenic plants has been achieved in the cereals rice, maize, wheat, oat, and barley (reviewed in Shimamoto, K. (1994) Current Opinion in Biotechnology 5, 158-162.; Vasil, et al. (1992) Bio/Technology 10, 667-674; Vain et al., 1995, Biotechnology Advances 13 (4): 653-671; Vasil, 1996, Nature Biotechnology 14 page 702).

Microprojectile bombardment, electroporation and direct DNA uptake are preferred where Agrobacterium is inefficient or ineffective. Alternatively, a combination of different techniques may be employed to enhance the efficiency of the transformation process, eg bombardment with Agrobacterium coated microparticles (EP-A-486234) or microprojectile bombardment to induce wounding followed by co-cultivation with Agrobacterium (EP-A-486233).

Following transformation, a plant may be regenerated, e.g. from single cells, callus tissue or leaf discs, as is standard in the art. Almost any plant can be entirely regenerated from cells, tissues and organs of the plant.

Available techniques are reviewed in Vasil et al., Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol I, II and III, Laboratory Procedures and Their Applications, Academic Press, 1984, and Weissbach and Weissbach, Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, 1989.

The particular choice of a transformation technology will be determined by its efficiency to transform certain plant species as well as the experience and preference of the person practising the invention with a particular methodology of choice. It will be apparent to the skilled person that the particular choice of a transformation system to introduce nucleic acid into plant cells is not essential to or a limitation of the invention, nor is the choice of technique for plant regeneration.

A GSL-ELONGASE gene and modified versions thereof (alleles, mutants, variants and derivatives thereof), and other nucleic acid provided herein, including species homologues, may be used to modify glucosinolate content and/or nature in a transgenic plant, and/or catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA. Nucleic acid such as a vector as described herein may be used for the production of a transgenic plant. Such a plant may possess an altered phenotype, particular in terms of glucosinolate content and/or nature compared with wild-type (that is to say a plant that is wild-type for GSL-ELONGASE or the relevant homologue thereof).

The invention further encompasses a host cell transformed with nucleic acid or a vector according to the present invention, especially a plant or a microbial cell. Thus, a host cell, such as a plant cell, including heterologous nucleic acid according to the present invention is provided. Within the cell, the nucleic acid may be incorporated within the chromosome. There may be more than one heterologous nucleotide sequence per haploid genome.

Also according to the invention there is provided a plant cell having incorporated into its genome nucleic acid, particularly heterologous nucleic acid, as provided by the present invention, under operative control of a regulatory sequence for control of expression. The coding sequence may be operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences which may be heterologous or foreign to the gene, such as not naturally associated with the gene for its expression. The nucleic acid according to the invention may be placed under the control of an externally inducible gene promoter to place expression under the control of the user.

A suitable inducible promoter is the GST-II-27 gene promoter which has been shown to be induced by certain chemical compounds which can be applied to growing plants. The promoter is functional in both monocotyledons and dicotyledons. It can therefore be used to control gene expression in a variety of genetically modified plants, including field crops such as canola, sunflower, tobacco, sugarbeet, cotton; cereals such as wheat, barley, rice, maize, sorghum; fruit such as tomatoes, mangoes, peaches, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas, and melons; and vegetables such as carrot, lettuce, cabbage and onion. The GST-II-27 promoter is also suitable for use in a variety of tissues, including roots, leaves, stems and reproductive tissues.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of making such a plant cell involving introduction of nucleic acid or a suitable vector including the sequence of nucleotides into a plant cell and causing or allowing recombination between the vector and the plant cell genome to introduce the sequence of nucleotides into the genome. The invention extends to plant cells containing nucleic acid according to the invention as a result of introduction of the nucleic acid into an ancestor cell.

The term “heterologous” may be used to indicate that the gene/sequence of nucleotides in question have been introduced into said cells of the plant or an ancestor thereof, using genetic engineering, ie by human intervention. A transgenic plant cell, i.e. transgenic for the nucleic acid in question, may be provided. The transgene may be on an extra-genomic vector or incorporated, preferably stably, into the genome. A heterologous gene may replace an endogenous equivalent gene, ie one which normally performs the same or a similar function, or the inserted sequence may be additional to the endogenous gene or other sequence. An advantage of introduction of a heterologous gene is the ability to place expression of a sequence under the control of a promoter of choice, in order to be able to influence expression according to preference. Furthermore, mutants, variants and derivatives of the wild-type gene, e.g. with higher or lower activity than wild-type, may be used in place of the endogenous gene. Nucleic acid heterologous, or exogenous or foreign, to a plant cell may be non-naturally occuring in cells of that type, variety or species. Thus, nucleic acid may include a coding sequence of or derived from a particular type of plant cell or species or variety of plant, placed within the context of a plant cell of a different type or species or variety of plant. A further possibility is for a nucleic acid sequence to be placed within a cell in which it or a homologue is found naturally, but wherein the nucleic acid sequence is linked and/or adjacent to nucleic acid which does not occur naturally within the cell, or cells of that type or species or variety of plant, such as operably linked to one or more regulatory sequences, such as a promoter sequence, for control of expression. A sequence within a plant or other host cell may be identifiably heterologous, exogenous or foreign.

Plants which include a plant cell according to the invention are also provided, along with any part or propagule thereof, seed, selfed or hybrid progeny and descendants. A plant according to the present invention may be one which does not breed true in one or more properties. Plant varieties may be excluded, particularly registrable plant varieties according to Plant Breeders' Rights. It is noted that a plant need not be considered a “plant variety” simply because it contains stably within its genome a transgene, introduced into a cell of the plant or an ancestor thereof.

In addition to a plant, the present invention provides any clone of such a plant, seed, selfed or hybrid progeny and descendants, and any part of any of these, such as cuttings, seed. The invention provides any plant propagule, that is any part which may be used in reproduction or propagation, sexual or asexual, including cuttings, seed and so on. Also encompassed by the invention is a plant which is a sexually or asexually propagated off-spring, clone or descendant of such a plant, or any part or propagule of said plant, off-spring, clone or descendant.

The invention further provides a method of influencing or affecting a physical characteristic of a plant, particularly glucosinolate content and/or nature, including causing or allowing expression of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence as discussed within cells of the plant.

The invention further provides a method of including expression from nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence of FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1), or a mutant, variant, allele or derivative of the sequence, or a homologue, according to the disclosure herein, within cells of a plant (thereby producing the encoded polypeptide), following an earlier step of introduction of the nucleic acid into a cell of the plant or an ancestor thereof. Such a method may influence or affect a characteristic of the plant, such as glucosinolate content and/or nature. This may be used in combination with any other gene, such as transgenes involved in glucosinolate biosynthesis or other phenotypic trait or desirable property.

The present invention also encompasses the expression product of any of the nucleic acid sequences disclosed and methods of making the expression product by expression from encoding nucleic acid therefore under suitable conditions, which may be in suitable host cells. Following expression, the product may be isolated from the expression system and may be used as desired, for instance in formulation of a composition including at least one additional component.

The present invention also provides for the production and use of fragments of the full-length polypeptides disclosed herein, especially active portions thereof. An “active portion” of a polypeptide means a peptide which is less than said full length polypeptide, but which retains its essential biological activity. In particular, the active portion retains the ability to catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA, and/or modify glucosinolate biosynthesis in a plant, such as Arabidopsis thaliana.

A “fragment” of a polypeptide means a stretch of amino acid residues of at least about five to seven contiguous amino acids, often at least about seven to nine contiguous amino acids, typically at least about nine to 13 contiguous amino acids and, most preferably, at least about 20 to 30 or more contiguous amino acids. Fragments of the polypeptides may include one or more epitopes useful for raising antibodies to a portion of any of the amino acid sequences disclosed herein. Preferred epitopes are those to which antibodies are able to bind specifically, which may be taken to be binding a polypeptide or fragment thereof of the invention with an affinity which is at least about 1000× that of other polypeptides.

Purified protein according to the present invention, or a fragment, mutant, derivative or variant thereof, e.g. produced recombinantly by expression from encoding nucleic acid therefor, may be used to raise antibodies employing techniques which are standard in the art. Antibodies and polypeptides comprising antigen-binding fragments of antibodies may be used in identifying homologues from other species as discussed further below.

Methods of producing antibodies include immunising a mammal (e.g. human, mouse, rat, rabbit, horse, goat, sheep or monkey) with the protein or a fragment thereof. Antibodies may be obtained from immunised animals using any of a variety of techniques known in the art, and might be screened, preferably using binding of antibody to antigen of interest. For instance, Western blotting techniques or immunoprecipitation may be used (Armitage et al, 1992, Nature 357: 80-82). Antibodies may be polyclonal or monoclonal.

As an alternative or supplement to immunising a mammal, antibodies with appropriate binding specificity may be obtained from a recombinantly produced library of expressed immunoglobulin variable domains, e.g. using lambda bacteriophage or filamentous bacteriophage which display functional immunoglobulin binding domains on their surfaces; for instance see WO92/01047.

Antibodies raised to a polypeptide or peptide can be used in the identification and/or isolation of homologous polypeptides, and then the encoding genes. Thus, the present invention provides a method of identifying or isolating a polypeptide with the desired function (in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein), comprising screening candidate polypeptides with a polypeptide comprising the antigen-binding domain of an antibody (for example whole antibody or a suitable fragment thereof, e.g. scFv, Fab) which is able to bind a polypeptide or fragment, variant or derivative thereof according to the present invention or preferably has binding specificity for such a polypeptide. Specific binding members such as antibodies and polypeptides comprising antigen binding domains of antibodies that bind and are preferably specific for a polypeptide or mutant, variant or derivative thereof according to the invention represent further aspects of the present invention, particularly in isolated and/or purified form, as do their use and methods which employ them.

Candidate polypeptides for screening may for instance be the products of an expression library created using nucleic acid derived from an plant of interest, or may be the product of a purification process from a natural source. A polypeptide found to bind the antibody may be isolated and then may be subject to amino acid sequencing. Any suitable technique may be used to sequence the polypeptide either wholly or partially (for instance a fragment of the polypeptide may be sequenced). Amino acid sequence information may be used in obtaining nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, for instance by designing one or more oligonucleotides (e.g. a degenerate pool of oligonucleotides) for use as probes or primers in hybridization to candidate nucleic acid, or by searching computer sequence databases, as discussed further below.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of identifying and cloning GSL-ELONGASE homologues from plant species other than Arabidopsis thaliana which method employs a nucleotide sequence derived from that shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9). As discussed above, sequences derived from these may themselves be used in identifying and in cloning other sequences. The nucleotide sequence information provided herein, or any part thereof, may be used in a data-base search to find homologous sequences, expression products of which can be tested for ability to influence a plant characteristic. These may have ability to catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA, and/or modify glucosinolate biosynthesis in a plant, altering glucosinolate content and/or nature. Alternatively, nucleic acid libraries may be screened using techniques well known to those skilled in the art and homologous sequences thereby identified then tested.

The present invention also extends to nucleic acid encoding an GSL-ELONGASE homologue obtained using a nucleotide sequence derived from that shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2), FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9). In certain embodiments, nucleic acid according to the present invention encodes a polypeptide which has homology with all or part of the GSL-ELONGASE amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1), in the terms discussed already above (e.g. for length), which homology is greater over the length of the relevant part (i.e. fragment) than the homology shared between a respective part of the GSL-ELONGASE amino acid sequence of FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1), also shown in FIG. 5, and the other sequences shown in FIG. 5, and may be greater than about 5% greater, more preferably greater than about 10% greater, more preferably greater than about 20% greater, and more preferably greater than about 30% greater. Thus, to exemplify with reference to one embodiment, nucleic acid encoding an amino acid mutant, variant or derivative of the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) may be provided wherein the encoded amino acid sequence includes a contiguous sequence of about 100 amino acids which has greater homology with a contiguous sequence of 100 amino acids within the GSL-ELONGASE amino acid sequence of FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) (also shown in FIG. 5) than any contiguous sequence of 100 amino acids within another sequence shown in FIG. 5, preferably greater than about 5% greater homology, and so on.

Similarly, nucleic acid according to certain embodiments of the present invention may have homology with all or part of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), in the terms discussed already above (e.g. for length), which homology is greater over the length of the relevant part (i.e. fragment) than the homology shared with a respective part of the coding nucleotide sequence for the other amino acid sequences shown in FIG. 5 and referenced herein, and may be greater than about 5% greater, more preferably greater than about 10% greater, more preferably greater than about 20% greater, and more preferably greater than about 30% greater. Thus, to exemplify with reference to one embodiment, nucleic acid may be provided in accordance with the present invention wherein the nucleotide sequence includes a contiguous sequence of about 300 nucleotides (or 100 codons) which has greater homology with a contiguous sequence of 300 nucleotides within the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5) than any contiguous sequence of 100 nucleotides within the relevant sequence, preferably greater than about 5% greater homology, and so on.

The provision of sequence information for the GSL-ELONGASE gene of Arabidopsis thaliana enables the obtention of homologous sequences from other plant species. In particular, homologues may be easily isolated from related, commercially important Crucifer species (e.g. Brassica nigra, Brassica napus, Brassica oleraceae, Brassica rapa, Brassica carinata, Brassica juncea).

Thus, included within the scope of the present invention are nucleic acid molecules which encode amino acid sequences which are homologues of GSL-ELONGASE of Arabidopsis thaliana. Homology may be at the nucleotide sequence and/or amino acid sequence level, as has already been discussed above. A homologue from a species other than Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a product which causes a phenotype similar to that caused by the Arabidopsis thaliana GSL-ELONGASE gene, generally including ability to catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA, and/or affect glucosinolate biosynthesis to alter glucosinolate content and/or nature in a plant, such as in Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, mutants, derivatives or alleles of these genes may have altered, e.g. increased or decreased, enzymatic activity or substrate specificity compared with wild-type.

GSL-ELONGASE gene homologues may also be identified from economically important monocotyledonous crop plants such as rice and maize. Although genes encoding the same protein in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants show relatively little homology at the nucleotide level, amino acid sequences are conserved. Therefore it is possible to use public sequence databases to identify Arabidopsis, rice or maize cDNA clone sequences that were obtained in random sequencing programmes and share homology to the gene of interest, as has been done for other genes isolated from Arabidopsis (e.g CO; WO 96/14414). Of course, mutants, derivatives and alleles of these sequences are included within the scope of the present invention in the same terms as discussed above for the Arabidopsis thaliana GSL-ELONGASE gene.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of identifying or a method of cloning a GSL-ELONGASE homologue, e.g. from a species other than Arabidopsis thaliana the method employing a nucleotide sequence derived from that shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9). For instance, such a method may employ an oligonucleotide or oligonucleotides which comprises or consists of a sequence or sequences conserved between or encoding a sequence or sequences conserved between the sequences shown in or encoding the sequences shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 to search for homologues. Thus, a method of obtaining nucleic acid is provided, comprising hybridisation of an oligonucleotide or a nucleic acid molecule comprising such an oligonucleotide to target/candidate nucleic acid. Target or candidate nucleic acid may, for example, comprise a genomic or cDNA library obtainable from an organism known to contain or suspected of containing such nucleic acid, either monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous. Successful hybridisation may be identified and target/candidate nucleic acid isolated for further investigation and/or use.

Hybridisation may involve probing nucleic acid and identifying positive hybridisation under suitably stringent conditions (in accordance with known techniques) and/or use of oligonucleotides as primers in a method of nucleic acid amplification, such as PCR. For probing, preferred conditions are those which are stringent enough for there to be a simple pattern with a small number of hybridisations identified as positive which can be investigated further. It is well known in the art to increase stringency of hybridisation gradually until only a few positive clones remain.

For instance, screening may initially be carried out under conditions, which comprise a temperature of about 37° C. or more, a formamide concentration of less than about 50%, and a moderate to low salt (e.g. Standard Saline Citrate (‘SSC’)=0.15 M sodium chloride; 0.15 M sodium citrate; pH 7) concentration.

Alternatively, a temperature of about 50° C. or more and a high salt (e.g. ‘SSPE’=0.180 mM sodium chloride; 9 mM disodium hydrogen phosphate; 9 mM sodium dihydrogen phosphate; 1 mM sodium EDTA; pH 7.4). Preferably the screening is carried out at about 37° C., a formamide concentration of about 20%, and a salt concentration of about 5×SSC, or a temperature of about 50° C. and a salt concentration of about 2×SSPE. These conditions will allow the identification of sequences which have a substantial degree of homology (similarity, identity) with the probe sequence, without requiring the perfect homology for the identification of a stable hybrid.

Suitable conditions include, e.g. for detection of sequences that are about 80-90% identical, hybridization overnight at 42° C. in 0.25 M Na₂HPO₄, pH 7.2, 6.5% SDS, 10% dextran sulfate and a final wash at 55° C. in 0.1X SSC, 0.1% SDS. For detection of sequences that are greater than about 90% identical, suitable conditions include hybridization overnight at 65° C. in 0.25 M Na₂HPO₄, pH 7.2, 6.5% SDS, 10% dextran sulfate and a final wash at 60° C. in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS.

The present invention extends to nucleic acid selectively hybridisable under high stringency with nucleic acid identified herein.

As an alternative to probing, though still employing nucleic acid hybridisation, oligonucleotides designed to amplify DNA sequences may be used in PCR reactions or other methods involving amplification of nucleic acid, using routine procedures. See for instance “PCR protocols; A Guide to Methods and Applications”, Eds. Innis et al, 1990, Academic Press, New York.

Preferred amino acid sequences suitable for use in the design of probes or PCR primers for some purposes are sequences conserved (completely, substantially or partly) between the GSL-ELONGASE sequence and at least one other of the sequences shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6.

Preferred primers for amplification of conserved regions of GSL-ELONGASE for use as probes to obtain genomic or cDNA clones may include the following:

Primer Pair 1

-   ATGGTTCTCCGGTCAGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO:16) -   CACGGTCTTGGCGATGGTTTT (SEQ ID NO:17)

These primers will amplify nucleotides 1001 to 1381. This region will include exon 1 and conserved region 1.

Primer Pair 2

-   AAAACCATCGCCAAGACCGTG (SEQ ID NO:18) -   TCTTCGCACCCAAATTGGATG (SEQ ID NO:19)

These primers will amplify nucleotides between 1361 and 1940. This region will include intron 1 and exon 2, containing conserved region 2.

Primer Pair 3

-   ATGGTTCTCCGGTCAGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO:16) -   TCTTCGCACCCAAATTGGATG (SEQ ID NO:19)

These primers will amplify nucleotides between 1001 and 1940. This region will contain conserved regions 1 and 2.

On the basis of amino acid sequence information oligonucleotide probes or primers may be designed, taking into account the degeneracy of the genetic code, and, where appropriate, codon usage of the organism from the candidate nucleic acid is derived.

Preferably an oligonucleotide in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, e.g. for use in nucleic acid amplification, is up to about 50 nucleotides, or about 40 nucleotides or about 30 or fewer nucleotides in length (e.g. 18, 21 or 24).

Assessment of whether or not such a PCR product corresponds to a homologue gene may be conducted in various ways. A PCR band from such a reaction might contain a complex mix of products. Individual products may be cloned and each one individually screened. It may be analysed by transformation to assess function on introduction into a plant of interest.

As noted, nucleic acid according to the present invention is obtainable using oligonucleotides, designed on the basis of sequence information provided herein, as probes or primers. Nucleic acid isolated and/or purified from one or more cells of a plant (see above), or a nucleic acid library derived from nucleic acid isolated and/or purified from the plant (e.g. a cDNA library derived from mRNA isolated from the plant), may be probed under conditions for selective hybridisation and/or subjected to a specific nucleic acid amplification reaction such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleic acid probed or used as template in the amplification reaction may be genomic DNA, cDNA or RNA. If necessary, one or more gene fragments may be ligated to generate a full-length coding sequence.

PCR primers derived from the GSL-ELONGASE sequences disclosed herein may readily be tested for their specificity for amplifying nucleic acid according to the present invention, using both genomic DNA and RT-PCR templates.

Cloning and subsequent sequencing of PCR products may be used to indicate amplification of the expected derived gene fragment. Full length cDNA clones can be obtained as described by 5′ and 3′ RACE technology if RT-PCR products are used as templates.

Various aspects of the present invention include the obtainable nucleic acid, methods of screening material, e.g. cell lysate, nucleic acid preparations, for the presence of nucleic acid of interest, methods of obtaining the nucleic acid, and suitable primers and primer combinations.

The sequence information provided herein also allows the design of diagnostic tests for determination of the presence of a specific gene or allele thereof in any given plant, cultivar, variety, population, landrace, part of a family or other selection in a breeding programme or other such genotype. A diagnostic test may be based on determination of the presence or absence of a particular allele by means of nucleic acid or polypeptide determination.

At the nucleic acid level, this may involve hybridisation of a suitable oligo- or poly-nucleotide, such as a fragment of the gene or a homologue thereof, including any homologue disclosed herein, or any particular allele, such as an allele which gives a desirable phenotype, such as any such allele disclosed herein. The hybridisation may involve PCR designed to amplify a product from a given allelic version of the gene, with subsequent detection of an amplified product by any of a number of possible methods including but not limited to gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, direct hybridisation of nucleotide sequence probes and so on. A diagnostic test may be based on PCR designed to amplify various alleles or any allele from the relevant locus, with a test to distinguish the different possible alleles by any of a number of possible methods, including DNA fragment size, restriction site variation (e.g. CAPS—cleaved amplified polymorphic sites) and so on. A diagnostic test may also be based on a great number of possible variants of nucleic acid analysis that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, such as use of a synthetic sequence as a hybridisation probe.

Broadly, the methods divide into those screening for the presence of nucleic acid sequences and those that rely on detecting the presence or absence of a polypeptide. The methods may make use of biological samples from one or more plants or cells that are suspected to contain the nucleic acid sequences or polypeptide.

Exemplary approaches for detecting nucleic acid or polypeptides include analysing a sample from the plant or plant cell by:

(a) comparing the sequence of nucleic acid in the sample with all or part of the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or member including nucleic acid hybridisable with the sequence of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, or FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, or a polypeptide including a binding domain with specificity for nucleic acid including the sequence of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, or FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, or the polypeptide encoded by it, or a mutated form thereof, and determining binding of the specific binding member;

(e) performing PCR involving one or more primers based on the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, or FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, to screen the sample for nucleic acid including the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, or FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, or a mutant, allele or variant thereof.

When screening for a GSL-ELONGASE allele nucleic acid, the nucleic acid in the sample will initially be amplified, e.g. using PCR, to increase the amount of the analyte as compared to other sequences present in the sample. This allows the target sequences to be detected with a high degree of sensitivity if they are present in the sample. This initial step may be avoided by using highly sensitive array techniques that are becoming increasingly important in the art.

ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), or a polypeptide including a binding domain with specificity for nucleic acid including the sequence of FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), or the polypeptide encoded by it, or a mutated form thereof, and determining binding of the specific binding member;

(e) performing PCR involving one or more primers based on the nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID. NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), to screen the sample for nucleic acid including the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), or a mutant, allele or variant thereof.

When screening for a GSL-ELONGASE allele nucleic acid, the nucleic acid in the sample will initially be amplified, e.g. using PCR, to increase the amount of the analyte as compared to other sequences present in the sample. This allows the target sequences to be detected with a high degree of sensitivity if they are present in the sample. This initial step may be avoided by using highly sensitive array techniques that are becoming increasingly important in the art.

A variant form of the gene may contain one or more insertions, deletions, substitutions and/or additions of one or more nucleotides compared with the wild-type sequence which may or may not disrupt or alter the gene function. Differences at the nucleic acid level are not necessarily reflected by a difference in the amino acid sequence of the encoded polypeptide. However, a mutation or other difference in a gene may result in a frame-shift or stop codon, which could seriously affect the nature of the polypeptide produced (if any), or a point mutation or gross mutational change to the encoded polypeptide, including insertion, deletion, substitution and/or addition of one or more amino acids or regions in the polypeptide. A mutation in a promoter sequence or other regulatory region may prevent or reduce expression from the gene or affect the processing or stability of the mRNA transcript.

Tests may be carried out on preparations containing genomic DNA, cDNA and/or mRNA. Testing cDNA or mRNA has the advantage of the complexity of the nucleic acid being reduced by the absence of intron sequences, but the possible disadvantage of extra time and effort being required in making the preparations. RNA is more difficult to manipulate than DNA because of the wide-spread occurrence of RN'ases.

Nucleic acid in a test sample may be sequenced and the sequence compared with the sequence shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or other figure herein, to determine whether or not a difference is present. If so, the difference can be compared with known alleles to determine whether the test nucleic acid contains one or more of the variations indicated, or the difference can be investigated for association with a desired phenotype.

The amplified nucleic acid may then be sequenced as above, and/or tested in any other way to determine the presence or absence of a particular feature. Nucleic acid for testing may be prepared from nucleic acid removed from cells or in a library using a variety of other techniques such as restriction enzyme digest and electrophoresis.

Nucleic acid may be screened using a variant- or allele-specific probe. Such a probe corresponds in sequence to a region of the gene, or its complement, containing a sequence alteration known to be associated with alteration of catalytic activity and/or ability to affect glucosinolate biosynthesis. Under suitably stringent conditions, specific hybridisation of such a probe to test nucleic acid is indicative of the presence of the sequence alteration in the test nucleic acid. For efficient screening purposes, more than one probe may be used on the same test sample. Allele- or variant-specific oligonucleotides may similarly be used in FCR to specifically amplify particular sequences if present in a test sample. Assessment of whether a PCR band contains a gene variant may be carried out in a number of ways familiar to those skilled in the art. The PCR product may for instance be treated in a way that enables one to display the mutation or polymorphism on a denaturing polyacrylamide DNA sequencing gel, with specific bands that are linked to the gene variants being selected.

An alternative or supplement to looking for the presence of variant sequences in a test sample is to look for the presence of the normal sequence, e.g. using a suitably specific oligonucleotide probe or primer.

Approaches which rely on hybridisation between a probe and test nucleic acid and subsequent detection of a mismatch may be employed. Under appropriate conditions (temperature, pH etc.), an oligonucleotide probe will hybridise with a sequence which is not entirely complementary. The degree of base-pairing between the two molecules will be sufficient for them to anneal despite a mis-match. Various approaches are well known in the art for detecting the presence of a mis-match between two annealing nucleic acid molecules.

For instance, RN'ase A cleaves at the site of a mis-match. Cleavage can be detected by electrophoresing test nucleic acid to which the relevant probe or probe has annealed and looking for smaller molecules (i.e. molecules with higher electrophoretic mobility) than the full length probe/test hybrid. Other approaches rely on the use of enzymes such as resolvases or endonucleases.

Thus, an oligonucleotide probe that has the sequence of a region of the normal gene (either sense or anti-sense strand) in which mutations associated with particular phenotypes are known to occur may be annealed to test nucleic acid and the presence or absence of a mis-match determined. Detection of the presence of a mis-match may indicate the presence in the test nucleic acid of a mutation. On the other hand, an oligonucleotide probe that has the sequence of a region of the gene including a mutation may be annealed to test nucleic acid and the presence or absence of a mis-match determined. The presence of a mis-match may indicate that the nucleic acid in the test sample has the normal sequence, or a different mutant or allele sequence. In either case, a battery of probes to different regions of the gene may be employed.

The presence of differences in sequence of nucleic acid molecules may be detected by means of restriction enzyme digestion, such as in a method of DNA fingerprinting where the restriction pattern produced when one or more restriction enzymes are used to cut a sample of nucleic acid is compared with the pattern obtained when a sample containing the normal gene or a variant or allele is digested with the same enzyme or enzymes.

The presence of absence of a lesion in a promoter or other regulatory sequence may also be assessed by determining the level of mRNA production by transcription or the level of polypeptide production by translation from the mRNA.

Nucleic acid isolated and/or purified from one or more cells of a plant or a nucleic acid library derived from nucleic acid isolated and/or purified from cells (e.g. a cDNA library derived from mRNA isolated from the cells), may be probed under conditions for selective hybridisation and/or subjected to a specific nucleic acid amplification reaction such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A method may include hybridisation of one or more (e.g. two) probes or primers to target nucleic acid. Where the nucleic acid is double-stranded DNA, hybridisation will generally be preceded by denaturation to produce single-stranded DNA. The hybridisation may be as part of a PCR procedure, or as part of a probing procedure not involving PCR. An example procedure would be a combination of PCR and low stringency hybridisation. A screening procedure, chosen from the many available to those skilled in the art, is used to identify successful hybridisation events and isolate hybridised nucleic acid.

Binding of a probe to target nucleic acid (e.g. DNA) may be measured using any of a variety of techniques at the disposal of those skilled in the art. For instance, probes may be radioactively, fluorescently or enzymatically labelled. Other methods not employing labelling of probe include examination of restriction fragment length polymorphisms, amplification using PCR, RNAase cleavage and allele specific oligonucleotide probing.

Probing may employ the standard Southern blotting technique. For instance DNA may be extracted from cells and digested with different restriction enzymes. Restriction fragments may then be separated by electrophoresis on an agarose gel, before denaturation and transfer to a nitrocellulose filter. Labelled probe may be hybridised to the DNA fragments on the filter and binding determined. DNA for probing may be prepared from RNA preparations from cells.

Preliminary experiments may be performed by hybridising under low stringency conditions various probes to Southern blots of DNA digested with restriction enzymes. Suitable conditions would be achieved when a large number of hybridising fragments were obtained while the background hybridisation was low. Using these conditions nucleic acid libraries, e.g. cDNA libraries representative of expressed sequences, may be searched.

As noted, those skilled in the art are well able to employ suitable conditions of the desired stringency for selective hybridisation, taking into account factors such as oligonucleotide length and base composition, temperature and so on.

In some preferred embodiments of diagnostic assays according to the present invention, oligonucleotides according to the present invention that are fragments of any of the sequences shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or any allele associated with a desired phenotype are at least about 10 nucleotides in length, more preferably at least about 15 nucleotides in length, more preferably at least about 20 nucleotides in length, more preferably about 30 nucleotides in length. Such fragments themselves individually represent aspects of the present invention.

Fragments and other oligonucleotides may be used as primers or probes as discussed but may also be generated (e.g. by PCR) in methods concerned with determining the presence in a test sample of a sequence indicative of a desired phenotype.

There are various methods for determining the presence or absence in a test sample of a particular polypeptide, such as a polypeptide including the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1), or FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3) or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), or an amino acid sequence mutant, variant or allele thereof.

A sample may be tested for the presence of a binding partner for a specific binding member such as an antibody (or mixture of antibodies), specific for one or more particular variants of the polypeptide shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) or FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3) or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6).

In such cases, the sample may be tested by being contacted with a specific binding member such as an antibody under appropriate conditions for specific binding, before binding is determined, for instance using a reporter system as discussed. Where a panel of antibodies is used, different reporting labels may be employed for each antibody so that binding of each can be determined.

A specific binding member such as an antibody may be used to isolate and/or purify its binding partner polypeptide from a test sample, to allow for sequence and/or biochemical analysis of the polypeptide to determine whether it has the sequence and/or properties of the wild-type polypeptide or a particular mutant, variant or allele thereof. Amino acid sequence is routine in the art using automated sequencing machines.

The use of diagnostic tests for alleles allows the researcher or plant breeder to establish, with full confidence and independent from time consuming biochemical tests, whether or not a desired allele is present in the plant of interest (or a cell thereof), whether the plant is a representative of a collection of other genetically identical plants (e.g. an inbred variety or cultivar) or one individual in a sample of related (e.g. breeders' selection) or unrelated plants.

In a breeding scheme based on selection and selfing of desirable individuals, nucleic acid or polypeptide diagnostics for the desirable allele or alleles in high throughput, low cost assays as provided by this invention, reliable selection for the can be made at early generations and on more material than would otherwise be possible. This gain in reliability of selection plus the time saving by being able to test material earlier and without costly phenotype screening is of considerable value in plant breeding.

Nucleic acid-based determination of the presence or absence of one or more desirable alleles may be combined with determination of the genotype of the flanking linked genomic DNA and other unlinked genomic DNA using established sets of markers such as RFLPs, microsatellites or SSRs, AFLPs, RAPDs etc. This enables the researcher or plant breeder to select for not only the presence of the desirable allele but also for individual plant or families of plants which have the most desirable combinations of linked and unlinked genetic background. Such recombinations of desirable material may occur only rarely within a given segregating breeding population or backcross progeny. Direct assay of the locus as afforded by the present invention allows the researcher to make a stepwise approach to fixing (making homozygous) the desired combination of flanking markers and alleles, by first identifying individuals fixed for one flanking marker and then identifying progeny fixed on the other side of the locus all the time knowing with confidence that the desirable allele is still present.

The present disclosure provides sufficient information for a person skilled in the art to obtain genomic DNA sequence for any given new or existing allele and devise a suitable nucleic acid- and/or polypeptide-based diagnostic assay. In designing a nucleic acid assay account is taken of the distinctive variation in sequence that characterises the particular variant allele.

Nucleic acid according to the invention may include a nucleotide sequence encoding a product involved in glucosinolate biosynthesis, such as whose wild-type function is to catalyse a condensation reaction of (n α-)keto acid with acetyl CoA. Reducing or increasing the level of expression may be used to manipulate glucosinolate biosynthesis in a plant. This may involve use of anti-sense or sense regulation, discussed further below.

Nucleic acid according to the invention, such as an GSL-ELONGASE gene or homologue, may be placed under the control of an externally inducible gene promoter to place expression under the control of the user. An advantage of introduction of a heterologous gene into a plant cell, particularly when the cell is comprised in a plant, is the ability to place expression of the gene under the control of a promoter of choice, in order to be able to influence gene expression, and therefore glucosinolate biosynthesis, according to preference. Furthermore, mutants and derivatives of the wild-type gene, e.g. with higher or lower activity than wild-type, may be used in place of the endogenous gene.

In the present invention, over-expression may be achieved by introduction of the nucleotide sequence in a sense orientation. Thus, the present invention provides a method of influencing a physical characteristic of a plant, the method including causing or allowing expression of the product (polypeptide or nucleic acid transcript) encoded by heterologous nucleic acid according to the invention from that nucleic acid within cells of the plant.

Down-regulation of expression of a target gene may be achieved using anti-sense technology or “sense regulation” (“co-suppression”).

In using anti-sense genes or partial gene sequences to down-regulate gene expression, a nucleotide sequence is placed under the control of a promoter in a “reverse orientation” such that transcription yields RNA which is complementary to normal mRNA transcribed from the “sense” strand of the target gene. See, for example, Rothstein et al, 1987; Smith et al, (1988) Nature 334, 724-726; Zhang et al, (1992) The Plant Cell 4, 1575-1588, English et al., (1996) The Plant Cell 8, 179-188. Antisense technology is also reviewed in Bourque, (1995), Plant Science 105, 125-149, and Flavell, (1994) PNAS USA 91, 3490-3496.

An alternative is to use a copy of all or part of the target gene inserted in sense, that is the same, orientation as the target gene, to achieve reduction in expression of the target gene by co-suppression. See, for example, van der Krol et al., (1990) The Plant Cell 2, 291-299; Napoli et al., (1990) The Plant Cell 2, 279-289; Zhang et al., (1992) The Plant Cell 4, 1575-1588, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020.

The complete sequence corresponding to the coding sequence (in reverse orientation for anti-sense) need not be used. For example fragments of sufficient length may be used. It is a routine matter for the person skilled in the art to screen fragments of various sizes and from various parts of the coding sequence to optimise the level of anti-sense inhibition. It may be advantageous to include the initiating methionine ATG codon, and perhaps one or more nucleotides upstream of the initiating codon. A further possibility is to target a conserved sequence of a gene, e.g. a sequence that is characteristic of one or more genes, such as a regulatory sequence.

The sequence employed may be about 500 nucleotides or less, possibly about 400 nucleotides, about 300 nucleotides, about 200 nucleotides, or about 100 nucleotides. It may be possible to use oligonucleotides of much shorter lengths, 14-23 nucleotides, although longer fragments, and generally even longer than about 500 nucleotides are preferable where possible, such as longer than about 600 nucleotides, than about 700 nucleotides, than about 800 nucleotides, than about 1000 nucleotides or more.

It may be preferable that there is complete sequence identity in the sequence used for down-regulation of expression of a target sequence, and the target sequence, though total complementarity or similarity of sequence is not essential. One or more nucleotides may differ in the sequence used from the target gene. Thus, a sequence employed in a down-regulation of gene expression in accordance with the present invention may be a wild-type sequence (e.g. gene) selected from those available, or a mutant, derivative, variant or allele, by way of insertion, addition, deletion or substitution of one or more nucleotides, of such a sequence. The sequence need not include an open reading frame or specify an RNA that would be translatable. It may be preferred for there to be sufficient homology for the respective anti-sense and sense RNA molecules to hybridise. There may be down regulation of gene expression even where there is about 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% or more mismatch between the sequence used and the target gene.

Generally, the transcribed nucleic acid may represent a fragment of a gene, such as including a nucleotide sequence shown in FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), or the complement thereof, or may be a mutant, derivative, variant or allele thereof, in similar terms as discussed above in relation to alterations being made to a coding sequence and the homology of the altered sequence. The homology may be sufficient for the transcribed anti-sense RNA to hybridise with nucleic acid within cells of the plant, though irrespective of whether hybridisation takes place the desired effect is down-regulation of gene expression.

Thus, the present invention also provides a method of modifying, affecting, altering or modulating glucosinolate biosynthesis or production a plant, the method including causing or allowing anti-sense transcription from heterologous nucleic acid according to the invention within cells of the plant.

The present invention further provides the use of the nucleotide sequence of FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) or FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5), or FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6), FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7), FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) or FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9), or a fragment, mutant, derivative, allele, variant or homologue thereof for down-regulation of gene expression, particularly down-regulation of expression of a GSL-ELONGASE gene or homologue thereof, preferably in order to influence a physical characteristic of a plant, especially glucosinolate content and/or nature.

When additional copies of the target gene are inserted in sense, that is the same, orientation as the target gene, a range of phenotypes is produced which includes individuals where over-expression occurs and some where under-expression of protein from the target gene occurs. When the inserted gene is only part of the endogenous gene the number of under-expressing individuals in the transgenic population increases. The mechanism by which sense regulation occurs, particularly down-regulation, is not well-understood. However, this technique is also well-reported in scientific and patent literature and is used routinely for gene control. See, for example, van der Krol et al., (1990) The Plant Cell 2, 291-229; Napoli et al., (1990) The Plant Cell 2, 279-289; Zhang et al, 1992 The Plant Cell 4, 1575-1588.

Again, fragments, mutants and so on may be used in similar terms as described above for use in anti-sense regulation.

Thus, the present invention also provides a method of influencing glucosinolate content and/or nature of a plant, the method including causing or allowing expression from nucleic acid according to the invention within cells of the plant. This may be used to suppress activity of a product with ability to influence glucosinolate biosynthesis or production. Here the activity of the product is preferably suppressed as a result of under-expression within the plant cells.

Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

IN THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a genetic model of glucosinolate biosynthesis in which QTLs and ELONG genes regulate the production of elongated forms of methionine. 2-k-4-mtb is 2-keto-4-methylthiobutanoic acid; 2-k-5-mtp is 2-keto-5-methylthiopentanoic acid; 2-k-6-mth is 2-keto-6-methylthiohexanic acid; 2-k-7-mth is 2-keto-7-methylthioheptanoic acid; 2-k-mp is 2-keto-3-methylpentanoic acid; 2-k-3-mh is 2-keto-3-methylhexanoic acid. The hashed arrow indicates that in the B.oleracea mapping population, an additional Mendelian gene regulate the quantitative expression of the GSL.

FIG. 2 shows a biochemical model of glucosinolate biosynthesis, with details of suggested pathway for amino acid chain elongation as supported by biochemical data. The highlighted reaction is the key regulatory step in glucosinolate biosynthesis disclosed herein.

FIG. 3:

FIG. 3A shows a genetic map of GSL-ELONGASE in Arabidopsis thaliana.

FIG. 3B shows a physical map of GSL-ELONGASE in Arabidopsis thaliana.

FIG. 4 shows physical mapping in A.thaliana. MYJ24 and MRN17 are two sequenced P1 clones. T28J9, T23B18, T2007 and T19E20 are BAC clones from the TAMU library. A, B and C are cosmid clones. The non recombinant region contains two putative genes with keto acid/acetyl CoA domains, one on MYJ24 and one on cosmid A. Both occur on T23B18, T2007 and T19E20.

FIG. 5 shows a comparison of amino acid sequences of soybean late nodulin (o04974) (SEQ ID NO:10), tomato isopropylmate synthetase (Q39891) (SEQ ID NO:11), GSL-ELONGASE NORTH (Aaseq) and Azotobacter vinelandii NifV (Q01181) (SEQ ID NO:12), and includes a consensus sequence.

FIG. 6 shows a sequence comparison between genes involved in keto acid/acetyl CoA binding: gsl-elong_s (GSL-ELONG SOUTH); aaseq (GSL-ELONG NORTH); o04974 (Isopropylmalate synthase from tomato) (SEQ ID NO:13); q3891 (Soybean late nodulin) (SEQ ID NO:14); q01181 (Rodobacter sphaeroides NIFV) (SEQ ID NO:15), and includes a consensus sequence.

FIG. 7 shows results of comparative mapping between B.napus, B.oleracea and A.thaliana, illustrating synteny between Arabidopsis CHR5, B. oleracea G2 and B. napus G13 in region of GSL-ELONGASE genes.

FIG. 8 (SEQ ID NO:2) shows the identified Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH genomic sequence including coding sequence.

FIG. 9 (SEQ ID NO:5) shows predicted Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH cDNA sequence.

FIG. 10 (SEQ ID NO:1) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH amino acid sequence, also shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH amino acid sequence, also shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 (SEQ ID NO:6) shows a further Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH cDNA sequence, including untranslated leader and coding sequence for the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 13 (SEQ ID NO:7) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE NORTH genomic sequence, without promoter though including coding sequence for the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 11 (SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:4) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE SOUTH amino acid sequence, also shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 15 (SEQ ID NO:8) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE SOUTH cDNA sequence, including untranslated leader and coding sequence for the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:4).

FIG. 16 (SEQ ID NO:9) shows Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE SOUTH genomic sequence, including promoter and coding sequence for the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 14 (SEQ ID NO:4).

FIG. 17 illustrates enzymic activity of isopropylmalate synthase, homocitrate synthase and suggested activity of products from different ELONG alleles.

FIG. 18 shows a genetic model of glucosinolate biosynthesis.

FIG. 19 provides schematic representations of various constructs including sequences of the present invention in sense and antisense orientations. Genomic sequences of GSL ELONG SOUTH and GSL ELONG NORTH were employed.

Genetics of Side Chain Elongation

Genetic Mapping

The Landsberg erecta ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana has predominantly 3-hydroxypropyl glucosinolate in its leaves, while the ecotype Columbia has predominantly 4-methylsulphinylbutyl glucosinolate. The difference is due to alleles at two unlinked loci; GSL-ELONGASE which determines the length of the side chain, and GSL-ALK which determines its side chain structure. To study the genetic basis of this difference, glucosinolates were extracted and analysed from 265 recombinant inbred (RI) lines. 113 RI lines had predominantly 4-methylsulphinylbutyl GSL, while the remaining RI lines had either 3-hydroxypropyl GSL or 3-methylsulphinylpropyl GSL. The approximate 1:1 segregation of side chain lengths indicate that the difference in side chain length is due to segregation of two alleles at a single locus, GSL-ELONGASE. The mapping data was integregated with existing RFLP mapping data from 100 of the RI lines as described by Lister C and Dean C (Plant J (1993) 4 745-750). Additional data was obtained through RFLP mapping with the remaining 165 lines. The GSL-ELONGASE locus was positioned between markers pCIT718 and g21503 (FIG. 3A). There were two recombination events between GSL-ELONGASE and pCIT718, and five recombination events between GSL-ELONGASE and g21503.

Physical Mapping

Schmidt et al (1997) Plant J 11 563-572 provides an outline physical map of Arabidopsis chromosome 5 in which YAC clones have been anchored through hybridisation with RFLP markers. Contig 7 contains the YAC clone yUP21F7 situated in the region between the flanking RFLP markers, pCIT718 and g4556. The left end of yUP21F7 was cloned and used as an additional RFLP probes on the RI mapping population. Two recombinants were found between this marker and the GSL-ELONGASE locus indicating that the locus was between this marker and pCIT718 (FIG. 3A). The YAC clone yUP6F5, which hybridises to pCIT718, was then used to select BAC clones from the TAMU BAC library. An overlapping BAC contig was constructed via hybridisation studies. End probes of BAC clones within the contig were cloned and used as RFLP probes to genomic DNA from the RI lines digested with several different restriction enzyme.

Both ends of the clone T19E20 (i.e. T19E20TFB and T19E20TR, see FIG. 3A), the right end of T23B18 (T23B18TR) and the left end of T28J9 (T28J9TFB) cosegregated with the gene.

There was one recombination event between the GSL-ELONGASE locus and the right end of clone T28J9 (T28J9TR) and two recombination events between the GSL-ELONGASE locus and the left end of T28b18 (T23B18TFB, FIGS. 3A and 3B). Thus the gene was located within the BAC contig defined by the three overlapping BACs T23B18, T19E20 and T28J9 (FIG. 3B).

The P1 clone MYJ24 is located on chromosome 5 and hybridises to YAC clone CIC4D, which is also located with the YAC contig 7 as defined by Schmidt (1997) and which contains the BAC clones T28B18, T19E20 and T28J9 kasuza.or.jp/chr5/map/8-10Mb.html. Through the use of the software provided by tigr.org/docs/tigr-ser/al_bac_script/bac_end_search_spl it was shown that MYJ24 contains the left end sequence of BAC T28J9 and indicates a 54 kb overlap. The right end sequence of T28J9 is found on the P1 clone MKD15, with an overlap of 11 kb. T28J9 was shown to be 70 kb in length resulting in 6 kb of sequence not represented on either MKD15 or MYJ24 (FIG. 3B). Thus a significant part of MYJ24 must be within the GSL-ELONGASE non-recombinant regions (FIG. 3)

Identification of the GSL-ELONGASE Gene kasuza.or.jp/arabi/chr5/clone/MYJ24/ provides information on gene organisation and putative function of genes on clone MYJ24. The nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence of a potential gene located between bases 8230 and 11604 has significant homology to a soybean late nodulin cDNA, GmN56 (alignment overlap 448 amino acids, 53% identity, FIG. 5) (Kouchi H and Hata S (1995) Mol Plant Microbe Inter 8 172-176). Further analysis of this region of the P1 clone suggests a gene of 4.9 kb, taking into consideration non-transcribed up-stream and down-stream regions. The predicted amino acid sequence of the Arabidopsis gene and the soybean cDNA also has high homology to an isopropylmalate synthase gene of Tomato (EC 4.1.3.12) and several microorganisms, and to NifV (homocitrate synthase) of several nitrogen fixing bacteria (FIG. 5).

Homologies between GSL-ELONGASE and other genes known to catalyse reactions involving acetyl CoA and keto acids

Gene bank % identity % identity % similarities accession # nucleotides amino acids amino acids soybean late Q39891 41.72 53.33 73.11 nodulin Tomato O04974 42.51 52.06 72.71 isopropyl- malate Azotobacter X99902 41.45 32.16 53.51 NifV

Similarity was calculated using the GAP program of the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group (GCG) programs, employing the parameters in Needleman and Wunsch (journal of Molecular Biology (1970) 48: 44 3-453). The default parameters used for GAP, BESTFIT and LOCALPILEUP are the same for both GSL-ELONG North and South (see below), as well as for soybean late nodulin, tomato isopropyl malate and Azotobacter NifV (gap creation penalty=12; gap extension penalty=4).

These homologies provide indication that the Arabidopsis gene encodes an enzyme catalyzing a reaction involving acetyl CoA and α-keto acid as substrates (see for example Kouchi H and Hata S (1995) Mol Plant Microbe Inter 8 172-176; Zheng et al (1997) J. Bacteriology, 179, 5963-5966).

This putative enzyme activity is exactly the predicted activity of the GSL-ELONGASE gene. Thus the combined genetic and biochemical data suggests that this gene is GSL-ELONGASE.

Conserved Regions Between Bacterial and Plant Genes

FIG. 5 shows amino acid conservation between the predicted protein structure of the transcribed regions of the putative GSL-ELONGASE and that from the soybean nodulin, a tomato isopropylmalate synthase and NifV from Azotobacter vinelandii. There are three highly conserved regions (underlined). Regions 1 and 2 have been associated with putative binding sites for keto acids based upon comparison with amino acid sequences of pyruvate carboxylase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase which also have binding sites for keto groups (Meijer W and Tabita P (1992) J Bacter 174 3855-3866). Region 3 may therefore be concerned with binding acetyl CoA. These highly conserved regions provide opportunities to isolate additional GSL-ELONGASE alleles and other plant genes which are involved in reactions concerning acetyl CoA and keto acids.

Comparative Mapping Studies.

Several GSL-ELONGASE loci occur in B.oleracea and B.napus, which possess alleles of different specificities, including an allele which is likely to convert methionine directly to dihomomethionine, the precursor of 4 C glucosinolates (GSL-ELONGASE^(2C→4C)) and an allele (GSL-ELONGASE^(4C→5C)) which converts dihomomethionine to trihomomethionine (or their respective keto acids). Two GSL-ELONGASE loci have been mapped in Brassica (FIG. 7). In B.oleracea, a gene on linkage group G2 regulates the conversion of 3C to 4C glucosinolates in a precisely analogous way to the GSL-ELONGASE^(3C→4C) gene in Arabidopsis. DNA probes which identified RFLPs near to the GSL-ELONGASE^(3C→4C) gene in Arabidopsis also identify RFLPs which are linked to the GSL-ELONGASE^(3C→4C) gene in B.oleracea. In B.napus, a gene has been mapped on linkage group G13 which converts 4C to 5C glucosinolates, presumably via the condensation of acetyl coA to 2-keto-6-methylthiohexanoic acid. The gene product from the B.napus GSL-ELONGASE^(4C→5C) gene thus has a different specificity to that from the Arabidopsis and B.oleracea GSL-ELONGASE^(3C→4C) gene. The RFLP marker T19E20L cosegregates with the Arabidopsis GSL-ELONGASE^(3C→4C) gene and also cosegregates with the B.napus GSL-ELONGASE^(4C→5C) gene. The synteny between the Arabidopsis and Brassica genomes in regions of GSL-ELONGASE genes strongly suggests that the Brassica GSL-ELONGASE genes are homologues of the Arabidopsis gene and will have a very high degree of similarity at both the nucleotide and amino acid level (average degree of similarity between Brassica and Arabidopsis gene is 85% at nucleotide level).

Further Comparative Mapping Studies

Comparative genetic studies between Brassica and Arabidopsis thaliana, identified members of an isopropylmalate synthase-like gene family which catalyse the condensation of keto acids with acetyl CoA as the genes underlying QTLs regulating glucosinolate biosynthesis. These genes regulate the expression of both antinutritional glucosinolates in rapeseed and anticarcinogenic glucosinolates in broccoli via the synthesis of chain elongated homologs of methionine and phenylalanine. This study also illustrates the mechanisms by which novel biochemical diversity in secondary metabolism can rapidly evolve by the recruitment of genes from primary metabolism into existing secondary metabolic pathways.

As noted above glucosinolates (GSLs) are thioglycosides which occur in the Capparales (Rodman et al. (1996) Systematic Botany 21, 289-307). The molecule consists of a common glycone moiety and a variable aglycone side chain derived from an amino acid. In the majority of Capparalean families, glucosinolates have aromatic side chains derived from phenylalanine and branched side chains, derived from valine and leucine. However, the predominant glucosinolates in the Brassicaceae possess side chains derived from chain elongated forms of methionine and phenylalanine. Lower amounts of GSLs with indolyl side chains derived from tryptophan also occur. The methionine derived (‘aliphatic’) GSLs exhibit considerable variation in the length and structure of the side chain (Table 1). Aliphatic GSLs in cruciferous crops are of economic and biological importance, largely as a result of hydrolytic products released upon tissue disruption. For example, the presence of 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl and 2-hydroxy-4-pentenyl GSL in the seeds of Brassica oilseed crops, severely limits the use of rapeseed meal as a high protein animal feed as these two GSLs produce goitrogenic compounds upon ingestion. In contrast, isothiocyanates derived from 3-methylsulfinylpropyl and 4-methylsulfinylbutyl GSLs in broccoli are potent inducers of phase 2 detoxification enzymes which are associated with protection from carcinogens (Zhang et al. (1992). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 2399-2403). Moreover, many aliphatic GSLs have been implicated in mediating plant-herbivore interactions (Giamoustaris A & Mithen, R. F. (1995) Ann Appl Biol. 126, 347-363).

Biochemical genetic models of aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis have suggested three distinct phases: methionine elongation→glucosinolate biosynthesis→side chain modifications. Previous studies in Brassica have shown that while certain side chain modifications of aliphatic GSLs can be attributed to allelic variation at single loci (Giamoustaris A & Mithen R. F. (1996). Theor Appl Genet. 93, 1006-1010.), the amount of aliphatic GSLs is inherited in a quantitative manner regulated by alleles at several QTLs, and that the inheritance of aliphatic and indolyl GSL is independent from each other (Magrath et al. (1993) Plant Breed. 111, 55-72). This suggests that the total amount of aliphatic GSL may be regulated by the supply of methionine homologs.

The following describes comparative mapping between Brassica and A. thaliana to identify genomic regions in A. thaliana of interest, followed by physical mapping in A. thaliana to identify a candidate gene family which regulates GSL biosynthesis, and then use DNA probes based upon conserved domains in this gene family to analyse QTLs in economically important Brassica species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Comparative Mapping

The position of Mendelian genes which regulate side chain elongation of methionine derived GSLs, and QTLs which regulate the total accumulation of these GSLs were compared among B.napus, B.oleracea and A.thaliana. Results of B.napus QTL mapping have been previously reported (Toroser et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 91, 802-808.). The B.oleracea mapping population consisted of an F₂ population derived from a cross between B.atlantica, a wild form of B.oleracea (von Bothmer et al. (1995) Genet Res Crop Evol 42, 165-178.), and B.oleracea var alboglabra RM2; the B.atlantica parent having >99% 2-propenyl GSL (i.e. 3C side chain), and the B.oleracea parent>95% 3-butenyl and 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl GSL (Mithen et al. (1987). Phytochemistry 26, 1969-1973.). DNA from the mapping populations and parents were extracted, restricted with EcoRI, separated by electrophoresis and blotted as described by (Sharpe et al. (1995). Genome 38, 1112-1121.). Filters were probed with the ‘Osborn’ RFLP probes (Ferreira et al. (1994). Theor Appl Genet 89, 615-621.) and a selection of A.thaliana RFLP probes (see below). Linkage analysis was undertaken with the MAPMAKER ver 3.0 software. Glucosinolates were extracted from freeze dried leaf material and analysed as described previously (Magrath et al. (1993) Plant Breed. 111, 55-72).

Previous studies had positioned an A.thaliana Mendelian gene (ELONG^(→4C) ) which regulates side chain length on chromosome 5 (Magrath et al. (1994). Heredity 72, 290-299.). To fine map this gene, DNA was extracted from 264 Columbia X Landsberg erecta RI lines, restricted with HindIII, separated by electrophoresis and blotted as described previously (Dean et al. (1992). Plant J 2 69-81.). Filters were probed with A.thaliana RFLP probes, mi219, mi433, mi90, mi138, mi322, mi438, mi291, pCIT718, g21503, g4556, Y21F7LE and CR12, and the Brassica RFLP probes wg2d11, wg7a8 and wg4e12 which flank a major QTL and Mendelian gene regulating GSL in Brassica (Toroser et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 91, 802-808).

QTL analysis was undertaken with 60 randomly selected RI lines. Thirty plants of each line were grown in 8.5 cm×8.5 cm pots under standard glasshouse conditions in a standard compost (chemical composition available upon request). Each line and parents were replicated three times and randomised. After six weeks growth, leaf tissue was harvested, freeze dried and glucosinolates analysed by hplc.

ANOVA was used to initially analyse QTL data. Threshold values of significance were calculated using bootstrapping procedures as described previously (Wang et al. (1994) Theor Appl Genet 136, 1421-1434; Ray et al. (1996) Theor Appl Genet 92, 627-636). MAPMAKER/QTL software was used to confirm position of QTLs. While this software does not contain an algorithm specifically for RI lines, it has been shown to be sufficently robust to analyse data of this nature (Wang et al. (1994) Theor Appl Genet 136, 1421-1434. and Ray et al. (1996). Theor Appl Genet 92, 627-636) and has been used to map QTLs for trichome number in the same mapping population (Larkin et al. (1996). Development 122, 997-1005.).

Physical Mapping in A. thaliana and Identification of a Candidate Gene Family

The YAC clone yUP6F5 which was located in the region of ELONG^(→4C) was used as a probe into the TAMU BAC library stanford.edu/Arabidopsis/ww/Vol12/choi.html. Manipulation of YAC clones, and library screening was as described previously (Schmidt R & Dean C (1995) Meth. Mol. Cell. Biol. 5, 309-318.). Twenty three clones were selected, assembled into a contig by restriction mapping and orientated through hybridisation to pCIT718. Ends of several of these clones were isolated by iPCR and used as RFLP probes to genomic DNA from RI lines, N4692, N4741, N4665 and N4684, which were shown to have crossovers near to ELONG^(→4C). In order to obtain polymorphisms for mapping, DNA from these lines was restricted with the following enzymes, BamHI, BglII, DraI, EcoRI, EcoRV, HaeIII, HindIII, HincII, HpaII, KpnI, PvuII, RsaI and SacI. End sequences of BACs (http://www.(tigr.org/docs/tigr-ser/al_bac_scripts/bac_end_search_spl) were used to integrate the physical map with sequenced P1 clones (http://(kasuza.org.jp/chr5/map/8-10Mb.html). BACs T19E20 and T23B18 were additionally used as probes into a Columbia cosmid library. Selected cosmids were used as RFLP probes and ends sequenced and integrated with the physical map. DNA sequence from P1 cones was analysed by BLAST and GCG Wisconsin Package version 8 software (with default parameters as indicated above).

Association Between Candidate Gene Family and QTLs in Brassica

For QTL analysis of glucosinolates in Brassica, two novel mapping populations were used. Firstly a B.napus (oilseed rape) population of 75 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from two F₁ individuals from a cross between a homozygous oilseed rape breeding line obtained from Cambridge Plant Breeders-Twyfords Ltd, and the experimental line JICF32. The JIC line was derived by backcrossing a synthetic B.napus line four times to oilseed rape cultivars/breeding lines.

The DH lines were grown in replicated field experiments, bagged to prevent cross pollination, and glucosinolates analysed from seeds as described previously (Toroser et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 91, 802-808.). Secondly, a B.oleracea (broccoli) population of 74 BC₁ individuals derived by backcrossing an F₁ hybrid between a doubled haploid line derived from the broccoli cultivar Green Duke and B.villosa (another wild member of the B.oleracea complex) to the broccoli parent. BC₁ plants were grown under standard glasshouse conditions and florets harvested, freeze dried and glucosinolates analysed as described previously. Identification of GSLs in the mapping populations were based upon comparison of retention times with standards. Additional confirmation of structures were obtained by GC-MS analysis of degradation products. Freeze dried leaf tissue was hydrolysed and degradation products extracted with dichloromethane and analysed by GC-MS (Faulkner et al. (1998) Carcinogenesis 19(4): 605-609).

DNA from both mapping populations and parents were extracted, restricted with EcoRI, separated by electrophoresis and blotted as described by (Sharpe et al. (1995). Genome 38, 1112-1121.). Filters were probed with DNA probes based upon candidate genes identified from the A.thaliana physical mapping studies. The distribution of levels of individual GLS segregating in the B.napus and B.oleracea populations were tested for normality (Anderson-Darling Normality Test), and then for associations between RFLP loci and the quantitative level of glucosinolates using both parametric statistics (single factor ANOVA and two-way ANOVA using the GLM procedure) which assume normality, and non parametric statistics (Kruskal-Wallis), which make no assumptions about distribution of phenotypes. All analyses were undertaken with the Minitab v.10 software.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Comparative Mapping

In an F₂ population from a cross between B.atlantica, a wild member of the B.oleracea n=9 species complex which possessed only 2-propenyl GSL (i.e. a 3C side chain) and B.oleacea var alboglabra, which possessed 3-butenyl and 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl GSL (i.e. 4C), 55 individuals had >55% 4C GSLs while 17 individuals had <2%. This ratio was not significantly different from a 3:1 ratio indicating the presence of a dominant allele at a single locus determining the presence of 4C GSLs. This locus (ELONG^(→4C)-Bo) was positioned between the RFLP markers wg2d11 and wg7a8 (FIG. 7). Two previous and independent studies on QTL mapping of aliphatic GSLs in seeds of oilseed rape had positioned a major QTL between the same flanking markers (Toroser et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 91, 802-808 and Uzunova et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 90, 194-204.). The major GSL phenotype segregating in these studies was the quantitative level of 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl GSL, i.e. a GSL with a 4C side chain.

This type of qualitative variation in side chain length was also observed in A. thaliana. Ecotypes were found to accumulate either predominantly 3C or 4C glucosinolates. For example, the ecotype Columbia accumulates 4-methylsulfinylbutyl GSL (i.e. 4C) while Landsberg erecta accumulates 3-hydroxypropyl (i.e. 3C) (Byrne et al. (1996) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93, 8820-8825.). A previous study positioned a gene which regulates side chain length on chromosome 5 (Byrne et al. (1996) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93, 8820-8825.). To map this gene with a higher degree of precision as a prelude to positional cloning, GSLs were analysed in leaf tissue of 264 RI lines derived from a cross between these two ecotypes. 111 lines had 4C GSL (i.e. >70% 4-methylsulfinylbutyl GSL) and 153 lines had 3C GSL [i.e >70% 3-hydroxypropyl GSL or 3-methylsulfinylpropyl GSL depending upon genotypes at the GSL-ALK locus on chromosome 4 (Mithen et al. (1995). Heredity 74, 210-215.)]. A single Mendelian locus (ELONG^(→4C)-At) was mapped to chromosome 5 which regulates the presence of 4C glucosinolates. This locus was linked to an RFLP locus identified with the probe mi219. This probe also identfied a RFLP locus linked to the putative homologous B.oleracea ELONG^(→4C) locus (FIG. 7). Thus, this comparative mapping sudy suggests that the A. thaliana ELONG^(→4C) gene may be a homolog of the gene which underlies the B.napus QTL, but necessitated the use of B.oleracea as a ‘bridge’ species.

To provide further information on the regulation of GSLs in A. thaliana, a QTL mapping study of total aliphatic glucosinolates was undertaken. The aliphatic GSL composition of leaves of Columbia was similar to that previously described (Haughn et al. (1991) Plant Physiol. 97, 217-226.); the major GSL (˜70%) was 4-methylsulfinylbutyl GSL, and there were lower amounts of 3-methylsulfinylpropyl GSL, 5-methylsulfinylpentyl GSL, 6-methylsulfinylhexyl GSL and 8-methylsulfinyloctyl GSL. Leaves of Landsberg erecta had predominantly 3-hydroxyprpyl GSL as opposed to 4-methylsulphinylbutyl GSL, but had similar levels of other GSLs as Columbia. The total amount of aliphatic GSLS, regardless of side chain structure, was used for QTL mapping. While there was no significant differences in the total aliphatic GSL content of either Columbia or Landsberg erecta, transgressive variation was observed. Five RI lines had significantly less GSLs than either parent, and five lines had higher levels than either parent (Table 3). Statistical analysis with either single marker analysis or interval mapping revealed the presence of a single major QTL, which explained 57% of the variation in glucosinolate content, and two minor QTLs. At the major QTL, Landsberg erecta alleles resulted in higher levels of GSLs, while at the minor QTLs Columbia alleles resulted in higher levels, thus explaining the genetic basis of trangressive segregation. The major QTL was coincident with the ELONG^(→4C) locus (FIG. 7). Thus studies in both Brassica and A.thaliana provide indication of an association between quantitative variation in GSL amount and qualitative variation in GSL side chain length. This is consistent with the quantitative regulation of aliphatic GSL expression being determined by the supply of methionine elongated homologs.

Physical Mapping in Arabidopsis

A positional cloning approach was employed to elucidate the nature of ELONG^(→4C). The locus was fine mapped with additional RFLP probes and positioned between the cosmid RFLP marker pCIT718 and the YAC end yUP21F7LE. Out of 264 RI lines, there were two recombinants between the locus and pCIT718 (RI lines N4692 and N4741) and two between the locus and yUP21F7LE (N4665 and N4684). YAC clone yUP6F5, which had been positioned adjacent (but not overlapping) to yUP21F7 as part of contig 7 on chromosome 5 (nasc.nott.ac.uk/JIC-contig/chr5_YAC-contig7.GIF), was used as a probe into the TAMU BAC library. Twenty three clones were selected, assembled into a contig and orientated through hybridisation to pCIT718. Ends of several of these clones were isolated by iPCR and used as RFLP probes to genomic DNA from RI lines with recombination events near to the target gene.

Polymorphisms were obtained with the following BAC end probes/enzyme combinations, T23B18LE/XbaI, T19E20RE/HpaII, T19E20LE/DraI, T5K20RE/HpaII, T23B18RE/HincII, T28J9RE/EcoRI, T28J9LE/HincII, T21B12RE/SacI, T14D2RE/BamHI and T14D2LE/EcoRV. Both ends of T19E20 and a single end of each of clones T2007 and T28J9 cosegregated with the phenotype. These results were consistent with the physical map based upon restriction mapping (FIG. 4).

The end sequence of several BACs were used to integrate the physical map to P1 clones which had been sequenced as part of the international Arabidopsis genome programme. The non-recombinant interval spanned two clones, MYJ24 and MRN17, and a non sequenced gap between the clones, estimated to be approximately 12 kb. Two cosmids from a Columbia library were selected via hybridsation with BAC T19E20 which were located partially in the interval between the P1 clones. As expected, when these two cosmids were used as probes on to genomic DNA they identifed cosegregating RFLPS. Further cosmids were obtained which helped to delimited the non recombinant regions by mapping and end sequencing. BAC clones T19E20, T21B12 and T28N6 were positioned entirely within the non recombinant regions. Restriction mapping and comparison of physical distances between the ends of these BACs and physical markers revealed that each of these clones had an insert of approximately 60 kb which was not present in the P1 clones, the cosmid library or in genomic DNA from several accessions of Columbia from different sources. These inserts therefore seem to be cloning artifacts.

Identification of a Candidate Gene Family

Sequence analysis of the P1 clones within the non-recombinant region revealed the presence of an open reading frame, MYJ24.1 (kasuza.org.jp/arabi/chr5/clone/MYJ24), with high homology to isopropylmalate synthase (‘ISPM synthase’) and to homocitrate synthase from nitrogen fixing microorganisms (FIG. 6). These two genes catalyse the condensation of a keto acid with acetyl CoA. Furthermore, both genes will accept keto acids of a variety of side chain lengths as substrates (FIG. 17). This activity is the predicted activity of the second step in the derivation of chain elongated GSLs (FIG. 2). Moreover, ISPM synthase is a structural gene which has an additional role in regulating branch chain amino acid biosynthesis (Umbager H E. (1996) in Escherichia coli and Salmonella: cellular and molecular biology ed Neidhardt F.C. (ASM Press, Washington D.C.) 442-456.).

Sequence comparison of the A. thaliana gene and a variety of homocitrate synthase and isopropylmalate synthase genes reveal several regions of high homology. Some of these regions near the 5′ end have been associated with binding of the keto group with acetyl CoA (Zheng et al. (1997). J. Bacter. 179, 5963-5966 and Stricker et al. (1997). J. Bacter. 2930-2937) (FIG. 6). A DNA probe containing the A. thaliana coding sequences for the highly conserved domains 1 and 2 of gene MYJ24.1 (FIG. 6) was made via PCR using the primer sequences ATGGTTCTCCGGTCAGGGTTA (SEQ ID NO:16) and TCTTCGCACCCAAATTGGATG (SEQ ID NO:19). This probe is thus diagnostic for genes with keto acid/acetyl CoA binding sites. The probe hybridised to five restriction fragments in A. thaliana, three of which cosegregated with ELONG^(→4C). One of these fragments (≈9 kb) was the size predicted from the MYJ24.1 gene, while the other two fragments (≈3.3 and 1 kb) were from a second gene within the non recombinant interval. Fragments the same size was found when the probe was hybridsed to restricted DNA from either of the cosmids spanning the gap between the P1 clones (FIG. 4).

Thus it is likely that there are two genes with keto acid/acetyl CoA binding sites within the non recombinant region. The two genes are designated GSL-ELONG NORTH (syn. MYJ24.1) and GSL-ELONG SOUTH (FIG. 4).

Similarity and identity calculated for the North and South sequences using the GAP program of the University of Wisconsin Genetics Computer Group (GCG) programs, employing the parameters in Needleman and Wunsch (Journal of Molecular Biology (1970) 48: 443-453), with default parameters (gap creation penalty=12; gap extension penalty=4), are 81.437% similarity and 76.647% identity.

To obtain the genomic sequence of GSL-ELONG SOUTH the cosmid 63H5 (FIG. 4) was sequenced. Sequence comparison shows that GSL-ELONG SOUTH has the same conserved domains as ELONG NORTH. The two other RFLP fragments (1.7 and 1.9 kb) were not polymorphic between Columbia and Landsberg erecta. Thus there are either three of four ISPM-synthase like genes in A.thaliana, two of which cosegregate with the GSL phenotype and are coincident with the maximum LOD score for the most significant QTL.

To provide further evidence of isopropylmalate synthase homologs in glucosinolate biosynthesis, the DNA probe, diagnostic for keto acid/acetyl CoA binding genes, was hybridised to DNA from novel mapping populations of oilseed rape and broccoli. The B.napus population consisted of 76 doubled haploid lines derived from two F₁ hybrids between a commercial low glucosinolate rape breeding line (≈16 μmoles g⁻¹), and a breeding line with intermediate levels of glucosinolates (≈25 μmoles g⁻¹), this latter level being greater than that permitted for Canola quality rapeseed. Three types of chain elongated glucosinolates segregated in the DH lines. Firstly, GSL with 4C side chains (3-butenyl and 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl), secondly, GSL with 5C side chains (4-pentenyl and 2-hydroxy-4-pentenyl) and, lastly, phenylethyl GSL. The 4C GSL were normally distributed while the distributions of 5C GSL and phenylethyl GSL deviated significantly from normality and were skewed towards lower values (Table 4). These two GSL were also significantly correlated with each other (r²=38.8%, p=0.000).

The probe identified 18 fragments, of which 5 were polymorphic. An allelic pair (=2.5 kb and 3.5 kb) was significantly associated with the level of 4C GSLs (p=0.000). Thus, these restriction fragment are likely to contain a gene which catalyses the condensation of acetyl CoA and 2-keto-5-methylthiopentanoic acid (‘ELONG^(→4C)’). A second allelic pair (=20 kb and 25 kb) was significanlty associated with the levels of both 5C GSLs (p=0.000) and phenylethyl GSL (p=0.000), regardless of whether tested with parametric (ANOVA) or non parametric (Kuskal-Wallis) statistics (Table 4). Therefore it is likely that on this large restriction fragment there are two genes, one catalysing the condensation between acetyl CoA and 2-keto-6-methylhexanoic acid (ELONG^(→SC)) to form the precursor of 5C GSL, and a second catalysing the condensation between acetyl CoA and 2-keto-3-phenylethanoic acid (ELONG^(→PNE)) to form the precursor of phenylethyl GSL. The presence of two genes on a restriction fragment of this size is consistent with the results from physical mapping in A. thaliana where two acetyl CoA/keto acid binding genes were found within the non recombinant regions. The results are also consistent with a previous study which suggested an association between a QTL and the presence of 5C GSLs (Toroser et al. (1995). Theor Appl Genet 91, 802-808.).

The broccoli population consisted of 74 BC₁ lines derived from a cross between the F₁ hybrid of a homozygous broccoli breeding line and B.villosa (a wild member of the B.oleracea n=9 complex), and the broccoli parent. In this population there was segregation of two glucosinolates; 3-methylsulphinylpropyl GSL, derived from 2-amino-5-methylthiopentanoic acid, and 2-methylbutyl GSL. This latter GSL is likely to be derived from a chain elongated form of isoleucine (FIG. 1). Both GSL exhibited Mendelian segregation regulated by alleles at two unlinked loci; the presence of a dominant allele from the non recurrent parent at these loci determine the qualitative presence or absence of these GSLS. However, if either GSL was present, there was quantitative variation in the amount. Nine fragments were identified when genomic DNA was hybridised with the diagnostic probe, of which two were polymorphic. One of these (=25 kb) was significantly associated with quantitative variation of both GSLs (Table 4), regardless of whether parametric or non parametric tests were used (Table 3). Hence, there may be a single gene on this DNA restriction fragment which catalyses the condensation of acetyl CoA with 2-keto-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (ELONG^(→3C)) and 2-keto-3-methylpentanoic acid (ELONG^(→BC)). Alternatively, there may be two or more genes on this DNA fragment with different substrate specificities.

In neither population was there an association between ELONG alleles and non chain elongated glucosinolates. This is consistent with previous reports of the independent inheritance of aliphatic and indolyl GSLs.

DNA probes representing other coding and non-coding sequences in the non-recombinant regions were also made, and used as RFLP probes for the Brassica mapping populations. There were no associations between RFLPs identified with these probes and GSLs in B.oleracea, and GSLs with 4C side chain in B.napus. However, there were significant associations between RFLPs identified with both coding and non coding probes and 5C GSLs in B.napus. This is likely to result from synteny between the respective regions of the B.napus and A.thaliana genomes.

This study has provided evidence for the presence of a complex gene family in Brassicacae which regulates the synthesis of chain elongated GSLs. Different specifities of members of this gene family for methylthioalkyl keto acids of different chain length determine the length of the aliphatic GSL side chain. Allelic variation of alleles with the same keto acid specificities determine the quantitative amount of these GSL, via a mechansism which may involve a negative feed backcontrol as is found with the regulation of leucine biosynthesis by ISPM synthase. This contrast with the regulation of flavanoid biosynthesis in maize in which transcription factors underlie several QTLs (Byrne et al. (1996) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 93, 8820-8825.). These GSL ELONG genes can be used in either marker assisted selection or genetic modification programmes to reduce antinutritional GSLs in rapeseed, to enhance anticarcinogenic GSL in horticultural brassicas and to modify plant-herbivore interactions.

Evolution of Biochemical Diveristy

One likely evolutionary scenario for the origin of this gene family is by the duplication of isopropylmalate synthase (a gene required for primary metabolism) and subsequent changes in substrate specificity resulting in the synthesis of chain elongated forms of methionine. These novel amino acids were able to act as substrates for existing enzymes involved in GSL biosynthesis from valine and leucine, thus generating GSLs with novel methylthioalkyl side chains. Interestingly, the isopropylmalate synthase homologs have retained their regulatory role. Subsequent gene recruitment resulted in further modifications to the methylthioalkyl side chain. A similar mechanism of ISPM synthase duplication and mutation is likely to have occurred in order to generate phenylethyl GSL from chain elongated phenylalanine which was able to be used as a substrate for existing GSL biosynthetic enzymes.

Novel biochemical diversity resulting from these processes may have been under positive natural selection pressure by enabling plants to escape from insect herbivores which had become adapted to exisiting GSLs in the ancestors of Brassica and Arabidopsis.

In crucifers, aliphatic glucosinolates are found with side chains up to n=11 (Daxenbichler et al (1991) Phytochemistry 30 2623-2638). Thus it is likely that a large number of alleles of GSL-ELONGASE are present with a different specificities for the chain elongated keto acids. Table 1 illustrates the possible sources of GSL-ELONGASE alleles. PCR primers based upon the highly conserved regions (FIG. 5; FIG. 6) may be used to isolate these alleles.

Chain Elongated Aromatic Glucosinolates

In addition to the different alleles for GSL-ELONGASE for aliphatic glucosinolates, a similar gene may be identified which regulates the chain elongation of phenylethyl glucosinolates. Probes based upon the highly conserved regions may be used to obtain this gene from genomic or cDNA libraries of Brassica, or more preferably watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) which accumulates very high levels of this glucosinolate.

Down-Regulation of GSL-ELONGASE Using Antisense Constructs

Conserved regions of GSL-ELONGASE are amplified using primers as indicated above and the amplified PCR products used to probe to select cDNA clones from Arabidopsis cDNA. Selected clones are sequenced to check homology at the nucleotide level and predicted amino acid sequence of transcribed regions with GSL-ELONGASE.

Full-length and partial length antisense cDNA constructs are produced in which clones containing selected parts of the transcribed nucleotide sequence are engineered into suitable vectors in reverse orientation, driven by a heterologous promoter. Arabidopsis ecotypes Columbia and Landsberg erecta are transformed via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

Glucosinolates from the plants are analysed using hplc and found to have altered structures.

Up-Regulation of GSL-ELONGASE Through Addition of Extra Copies and/or Use of a Heterologous Promoter to Achieve Overexpression.

Vectors are constructed containing the full length cDNA or genomic clone in a sense orientation driven by a suitable promoter, either heterologous or, in the case of genomic clones, the endogenous GSL-ELONGASE promoter.

Aradipsis ecotypes are transformed and glucosinolates quantified via hplc.

Additionally, tissue specific promoters are used to change spatial distribution of glucosinolates, and wound inducible promoters are used to achieve overexpression of glucosinolates following damage.

Modification of Glucosinolate Side-Chain Structure

A GSL-ELONGASE allele is introduced into a plant (e.g. Columbia allele introduced into Landsberg).

Glucosinolates are quantified via hplc to check for conversion of 3-hydroxypropyl glucosinolate to 4-methylsulphinylbutyl glucosinolate due to chain elongation.

Obtaining Brassica Alleles and Alleles from Other Species

Probes as discussed containing highly conserved regions obtained via PCR are used to select Brassica GSL-ELONGASE homologues from cDNA and genomic libraries. The above experiments with Arabidopsis are repeated using economically important Brassica species. Longer chain glucosinolate alleles up to C-11 are obtained from species such as shown in Table 1, and these are introduced into economically important Brassica to obtain expression of novel very long chain glucosinolates.

Use of GSL-ELONGASE as a Marker for Marker-Assisted Breeding Programmes

A complete or part of GSL-ELONGASE nucleotide sequence is used as a DNA probe to identify restriction fragment length polymorphisms occurring between plant breeding lines of Brassica and other glucosinolate producing taxa, which possess different GSL-ELONGASE alleles.

Primers are designed to amplify PCR products of different sizes from plant breeding lines containing different alleles. CAPS markers are developed by restricting amplified PCR products.

The markers are used in Brassica breeding programmes aimed at manipulating glucosinolate content of the plants.

Generation and Use of the Vector pGreen for Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation

The pGreen vector system for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation has been developed at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, and derivatives employed as described below for GSL-ELONG transformation of plants to modify glucosinolates therein.

Construction of the pGreen Plasmids

The components of pGreen were constructed as follows:

The pSa Replicon and Construction of pSoup (pJIC Sa Rep)

A 1.7 kb Sau3A partial fragment of pGV1122 (ATCC37171) was cloned into the BamHI site of pJIT134 (Guerineau and Mullineaux, (1993) Plant Mol. Biol. pp. 121-147) and selected for replication in Agrobacterium. The 1.7 kb Sau3A fragment in the resulting plasmid, called pJIT134Sa, was sequenced. Site-directed mutagenesis introduced a BamHI site between the pSa RepA and pSa ori, creating pJIT134SaBam. The 1.2 kb XbaI-BamHI fragment containing the RepA gene was cloned between the BglII sites of pBIN19 (Bevan, (1984) Nucl. Acids Res. 12, 8711-8721; Frisch et al., (1995) Plant Mol. Biol. 27, 405-409) replacing the pBIN19 T-DNA. The NptIII of this pBIN19 derivative was replaced by inserting an EcoRI-StyI fragment, harbouring the tetracycline resistance gene, from pAlter (Promega) between the remaining pBIN19 EcoRV sites to produce pSoup.

pGreen Backbone

The kanamycin resistance gene (NptI) from pACYC177 (Chang and Cohen, (1978) Bacteriol. 134, 1141-1156) was cloned as a NheI-NcoI fragment into the SpeI-BspHI sites of pBluescript SKII+, creating intermediate B. The NcoI site had been introduced into the NptI gene prior to this step and also restriction sites which would have been duplicated in the final pGreen plasmid were removed by site-directed mutagenesis. A unique BglII site was introduced to create intermediate C. The pSa ori sequence was inserted as a BamHI-SmaI fragment from pJIT134Sa-Bam into the BamHI-SmaI sites in intermediate C (remaining from the original pBluescript plasmid). These sites along with an intervening PstI site were removed by successive rounds of treatment with T4 DNA polymerase I (T4 polI) and religations. The StuI site in the NptI promoter and ClaI and NotI sites, introduced when the pSa ori was inserted, were removed by transformation into E. coli strain SCS110 (dam;dcm), digesting with T4 polI and re-ligation. This produced the pGreen backbone which was ready to receive the T-DNA cassette.

T-DNA

A DNA fragment consisting of a StuI site, the RB “overdrive” sequence, the RB sequence and a BglII site, going from 5′ to 3′ on the sequence, was produced. This RB DNA fragment was inserted into the AflIII site of pBluescript-SKII− and its orientation determined by sequencing. A recombinant plasmid (intermediate A) was selected which had the orientation of the RB fragment such that its StuI site was nearest to the SK multiple cloning site. A LB DNA fragment flanked by a HpaI and BglII site was produced. This fragment was inserted between the two SspI sites of intermediate A, simultaneously deleting the pBluescript SKII-fl ori. This 815 bp BglII fragment was cloned into the pGreen backbone to produce pGreen0000 and 1000 (corresponding to RB-LB and LB-RB orientations). This strategy was also performed on pBluescript KSII−, to produce the T-DNA for pGreen 3000 and 4000.

Construction of Selectable Marker and Reporter Gene Cassettes

The promoter-terminator cassettes into which the selectable marker and reporter gene coding sequences were inserted were constructed as follows. The CaMV35S-CaMV polyadenylation/terminator cassette was based on pJIT61; equivalent to pJIT60 (Guerineau and Mullineaux, (1993) Plant Mol. Biol. pp. 121-147) except that pJIT61 contains a single CAMV 35S enhancer region and multiple cloning site harbouring HindIII, XbaI, BamHI, SmaI, SacI and EcoRI restriction sites in a 5′ to 3′ order. The KpnI site at the 5′ end of the 35S promoter was converted to an EcoRV site. In the same way the BglII site at the 3′ end of the CaMV polyadenylation region was converted to an EcoRV site. The plasmid pSLJ261 (Jones et al., (1992) Transgenic Res. 1, 285-297) was the starting plasmid for the construction of the nos promoter-terminator cassette. The internal GUS gene of this plasmid was replaced with a XhoI-XbaI fragment from the pBluescript multiple cloning site. The GUS-deleted pSLJ261 was prepared from the E. coli dam- strain GM2109 and digested with BclI, which was 51 to the nos promoter, and converted to an EcoRV site. In the same way a HindIII site, 3′ of the nos terminator, was converted to a second EcoRV site. Both these basic promoter-terminator cassettes were the precursors for all of the CaMV35S and nos selectable marker and reporter gene cassettes.

Restriction sites in the cassettes which would have been duplicated in the pGreen cloning sites were removed by site-directed mutagenesis. More sites were removed after insertion of coding sequences into promoter-terminator cassettes by using T4 DNA polI treatment of DNA cut with the restriction enzyme, followed by religation and selection for loss of the site.

Plant Transformation

Protocols for plant transformation were as follows:

Arabidopsis was transformed with either the root explant method (Valvekens et al., (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 85, 5536-5540) or by vacuum infiltration of developing inflorescences (Bechtold et al., (1993) J. Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. Paris. 316, 1194-1199) were used as specified.

Cabbage and oil-seed rape were transformed as previously described (Moloney et al., (1989) Plant Cell Rep. 8, 238-242) as was pea (Bean et al., (1997) Plant Cell Rep. 16, 513-519), potato (Edwards et al., (1995) Plant J. 8, 283-294) and tobacco (Guerineau et al., (1990) Plant Mol. Biol. 15, 127-136).

Preparation of plant DNA and associated Southern blotting techniques were employed as described in the quoted papers for these particular species. P¹²-labelled probes were prepared from DNA fragments by a random priming method (Feinberg and Vogelstein, (1983) Anal. Biochem. 132, 6-13).

Materials and In Vitro Cloning Procedures

All in vitro recombination techniques employed were standard (Sambrook et al., (1989) Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press). Site-directed mutagenesis was carried out using the pAlter system (Promega, Wis.) as recommended by the manufacturer. Sequencing was carried out using a dye terminator labelling procedure and employing an ABI 373A Automated Sequencing machine according to the manufacturer's instructions (Applied Biosystems, Foster City Calif.). The sequencing of pGreen is available on the EMBL/Genbank database and on the pGreen website (address given below).

All restriction and DNA modifying enzymes were from Boehringer Mannheim (Lewes, U.K.). All antibiotics were purchased from Sigma (St. Louis, Mo.).

Transformation of Bacteria

E. coli (unless otherwise mentioned, strain DH5α) was transformed routinely by the procedure of Hanahan (1983).

Electroporation competent Agrobacterium cells were prepared according to (Shen and Forde, (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17, 8385) and electroporated in 2 mm cuvettes (BioRad, Hemel Hempstead, U.K.), with the following conditions: 2.5 kV, 400 Ω, 25 μF and 10-100 ng plasmid DNA. The electroporated cells were recovered in Luria broth for 4 h at 28° C. and plated on Luria broth agar plates (Sambrook et al., (1989) Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press) containing kanamycin sulphate (50 μg/ml) and rifampicin (100 μg/ml).

Alternatively, plasmids were transformed into Agrobacterium using a freeze-thaw method (An et al., (1988) Plant Mol. Biol. Manual A3, pp 1-19).

Development of the pGreen Vector and the Dual Plasmid System

For replication in Agrobacterium, the pSa replication locus has been used in the pGreen vector. This locus is defined by a 1.7 kb Sau3A fragment from the plasmid pGV1122 (ATCC37171). Sequencing of this fragment showed that the pSa replication locus consists of an ori and repA gene. Pilot experiments established that the pSa RepA gene can act in trans on the pSa ori, and was not needed on the pGreen vector, offering a substantial saving on size. Therefore, pSa RepA was subcloned into pBIN19, replacing the T-DNA region. The pBIN19 NptIII gene, coding for bacterial kanamycin resistance, was replaced with the tetracycline resistance gene (tet) from pAlter (Promega), to create pSoup. This plasmid has the RK2 incW replication origin whereas the pSa origin is in the IncR compatibility group, and as such these two plasmids can co-reside in Agrobacterium.

The pGreen vector is based on the general cloning vector, pBluescript (Alting-Mees and Short, (1989) Nucl. Acids Res. 17, 9494) and therefore contains a colE1 ori for replication in E. coli. This plasmid's ampicillin resistance gene was replaced with the NptI gene (encoding kanamycin resistance), the pSa ori was inserted, the f1 ori and Lac Z′ region deleted and a BglII site was left for the introduction of a T-DNA cassette.

The T-DNA cassette, in the case of pGreen0000 is a 813 bp BglII fragment including the pBluescript SKII LacZ gene and multiple cloning site, synthetic LB and RB sequences, derived from the border sequences of PTiT37 and with an additional T-DNA transfer enhancer (“overdrive”) motif immediately adjacent and external to the RB (Slightom et al., (1985) EMBO J. 4, 3069-3077; Van Haaren et al., (1988) Plant Mol. Biol. 11, 773-781).

Selectable Marker and Reporter Gene Cassettes

The basic pGreen vectors contain no selectable marker or reporter genes for plant transformation. Internal to the T-DNA (LB and RB respectively) are unique HpaI and StuI sites for the insertion of selectable marker or reporter gene cassettes. Four selectable marker genes and two reporter genes have been modified, by site-directed mutagenesis, to remove all the restriction sites which would have been duplicated in the pGreen multiple cloning site. These genes are aph3′II (kan; resistance to kanamycin; Bevan et al., 1983), aphIV (hyp; resistance to hygromycin; Waldron et al., 1985), sulI (sul; resistance to sulfonamides and the herbicide asulam; Guerineau et al., 1990), pat (bar; resistance to bialaphos and phosphinothricin; DeBlock et al., 1987), uidA (GUS; Jefferson et al., 1987) and GFP. The aph3′II gene does not contain the mutation that can affect its function as a selectable marker gene in some plant species (Yenofsky et al., (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 87, 3435-3439). The function of all these enzymes has not been affected by the DNA sequence changes introduced. In addition, a synthetic firefly luciferase gene (LUC+) was already available from Promega (Lonsdale et al., (1998) Plant Cell Rep. 17, 396-399) which fulfilled the above criteria. These genes were fused to both (CaMV) 35S promter-19S terminator and nopaline synthase (nos) promoter-terminator and all extraneous sites at cloning junctions were removed. All these gene cassettes are flanked by EcoRV sites which are compatible with both the HpaI and StuI cloning sites of pGreen.

pGreen Nomenclature

Using a computer-generated matrix a number 1 to 728 has been assigned for all the possible 35S and nos-containing cassettes cloned into the LB and/or RB cloning sites of pGreen0000. A KS version of pGreen is available, though not extensively tested and is called pGreen3000. The same designation of marker gene combinations can be assigned to any basic pGreen variant produced in the future. A complete list of the different combinations is available on the pGreen World Wide Web site: intranet.jic.bbscr.ac.uk/INFOSERV/DEPART/appgen/pgreen/A_hom_fr.htm.

Plasmid Handling and Copy Number in Agrobacterium

In Agrobacterium the pGreen plasmid requires the function of the RepA of pSoup. pGreen contains no mobilisation function (which permitted further savings in size) and so the plasmid is introduced into Agrobacterium using either electroporation or freeze-thawing. A mixture of the pGreen plasmid and the pSoup (tetracycline resistant) can be used in a mixed electroporation. In this instance, selection for co-transformed Agrobacterium can be achieved by selection on kanamycin-containing medium only, since pGreen cannot replicate in Agrobacterium without pSoup being co-resident. Alternatively, electro-competent Agrobacterium containing the pSoup can be generated and re-electroporated with pGreen. A. tumefaciens strains LBA4404, GV2260, GV3280, AGL-1 and EHA105 and A. rhizogenes strain LBA9402 support pGreen replication, provided that pSoup is also present.

Additional Vectors

pGreen 0229

pGreen 0229 contained a nos-bar-nos cassette at the left border of the SK T-DNA, LR orientation, in the “+” orientation (see creation of pGreen example). pGreen 0229 was made by digesting pUC119 containing the nos-bar-nos cassette with EcoRV restriction endonuclease. The product was processed further by removing the restriction endonuclease and non-DNA contamination using DNA clean-up columns supplied by Qiagen Corporation using their methodology. Simultaneously, the pGreen 0000 vector was digested with Hpal restriction endonuclease. The products of the two reactions were mixed together forming the cloned DNA molecule, with the assistance of DNA ligase proteins and appropriate substrates (Maniatis et al supra). The product was subsumed into E. Coli using the DNA transformation protocol outlined in the published PhD thesis of Roger Hellens “The CHS-1 Genes of Pea”, University of East Anglia, 1994. The required clone was identified using conventional molecular biology techniques, and confirmed by sequencing.

pGreen 0104

pGreen 0104 contained a CaMV35S-Kan-CaMV terminator cassette at the left border of the SK T-DNA, LR orientation, in the “−” orientation (see creation of pGreen above). pGreen 0104 was made by digesting the pUC19 derivative plasmid containing the CaMV35S-Kan-CaMV terminator cassette with EcoRV restriction endonuclease. The product was processed further by removing the restriction endonuclease and non-DNA contamination using clean-up columns supplied by Qiagen Corporation using their methodology. Simultaneously, the pGreen 0000 vector was digested with Hpal restriction endonuclease. The products of the two reactions were mixed together forming the cloned DNA molecule with the assistance of DNA ligase proteins and appropriate substrates (Maniatis et al supra). The product was submitted into E. Coli using the DNA transformation protocol outlined in Hellens supra. The required clone was identified using conventional molecular biology techniques, and confirmed by sequencing.

pJIT 160

PJIT60 (Guerineau F. et al (1992) Plant Molecular Biology 18, pages 815-818) was treated with restriction enzymes HindIII and Pst1, taking the enzyme restricted DNA and blunt ending with mung bean nuclease for 5 minutes.

The treated DNA was then ligated with a synthetic DNA fragment made from two oligonucleotides, forming pJIT 160. The sequence of the top strand was ACAGCCCAACAATGGCG (SEQ ID NO:20).

Genetic Modification of Glucosinolates in Arabidopsis and Brassica

To genetically modify the glucosinolate content in Arabidopsis and Brassica, constructs were developed in the vector pGreen (described above) and introduced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Inserts were based upon sequences of the GSL-ELONG_South and GSL-ELONG_North genes.

Two different types of constructs were made. Firstly, sense constructs containing full length genomic sequences. Secondly, antisense constructs containing either complete or partial genomic sequences in reverse orientation in order to down regulate production of glucosinolates. Constructs either contained the marker gene npt II, for introduction into Brassica, or bar for introduction into Arabidopsis. Constructs were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes Columbia and Landsberg erecta by the method described by Bechtold et al., (1993) (C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Sciences de la vie/Life sciences 316: 1194-9). Constructs were introduced into Brassica napus var Wetsar by the method of Moloney et al (1989) (Plant Cell Reports 8: 238-242).

GSL-ELONG Construct Design

Generation of pQA3 and pRA3

The 3′-terminus of GSL-ELONG_North was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia genomic DNA with the primers: 5′-CAGTGATGAGAAATTCAACGAC-3′ (nts. 4047-4068) (SEQ ID NO:21) and 5′-TACAACAGCGGAAATCTGAG-3′ (nts. 4376-4357) (SEQ ID NO:22).

The resultant 329 bp (0.3 Kb) fragment was cloned into the vector pGemT-Easy (Promega Corporation) using supplied protocols, producing plasmid pG3. Plasmid pG3 was cut with Eco RI and the 0.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Eco RI site of plasmid pJIT160 to yield plasmid pH6 with the GSL-ELONG_North fragment in antisense orientation. Plasmid pH6 was digested with Kpn I and Xho I and the 1.9 Kb fragment was cloned into the Kpn I and Xho I sites of; 1, plasmid pGreen 0104 to produce plasmid pQA3; or 2, plasmid pGreen 0229 to produce plasmid pRA3.

Generation of pYA25 and pYS73

The majority of the coding sequence of GSL-ELONG_North was amplified by PCR from Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia genomic DNA with the primers: 5′-ATGGTTCTCCGGTCAGGGTTA-3′ (nts. 1001-1021) (SEQ ID NO:16) and 5′-TACAACAGCGGAAATCTGAG-3′ (nts. 4376-4357) (SEQ ID NO:22). The resultant 3375 bp (3.3 Kb) fragment was cloned into the vector pGemT-Easy using supplied protocols, producing plasmid pJ4. Plasmid pJ4 was cut with Not I and the 3.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Not I site of plasmid pSport 1 (Gibco-BRL) to yield; 1, plasmid pM34 with the GSL-ELONG_North fragment in antisense orientation; 2, plasmid pM29 with the GSL-ELONG_North fragment in sense orientation. Plasmid pM34 was digested with Bam HI and Sal I and the 3.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Bam HI and Sal I sites of plasmid pJIT160 to yield plasmid p2TA5. Plasmid pM29 was digested with Bam HI and Sal I and the 3.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Bam HI and Sal I sites of plasmid pJIT160 to yield plasmid p2TS1. Plasmid p2TA5 was digested with Sal I and the 4.9 Kb fragment was cloned into the Sal I site of plasmid pQA3 to yield plasmid pYA25. Plasmid p2TS1 was digested with Sal I and the 4.9 Kb fragment was cloned into the Sal I site of plasmid QA3 to yield plasmid pYS73.

Generation of pAI1 and pAJ12

The genomic copy of GSL-ELONG_South from Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia is found on cosmid 63H5. There are Cla I restriction sites at nt. 193 within GSL-ELONG_South and 2075 nts. 3′ of the GSL-ELONG_South gene. Cosmid 63H5 was digested with Cla I and the 6.5 kb Cla I fragment was cloned into the Cla I site of; 1 plasmid pGreen 0104 to produce plasmid pAI1; or 2, plasmid pGreen 0229 to produce plasmid pAJ12.

Generation of pAPN1 and pAQN3

A clone of GSL-ELONG_North cDNA in vector pCR2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen), pJ3 (Max Plank Institute of Chemical Ecology) was digested with Eco RI and Hind III. There is an Eco RI site in the vector 26 bp 5 of the cDNA insert and a Hind III site at nt. 311 within the cDNA insert. The resultant 337 bp (0.3 Kb) Eco RI-Hind III fragment was cloned into the Eco RI and Hind III sites of pBluescript II SK+ (Stratagene) to yield plasmid pAL1. Plasmid pAL1 was digested with Eco RI and Sal I and the resultant 0.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Eco RI and Sal I sites of pJIT160 to yield plasmid pAN1. Plasmid pAN1 was digested with Kpn I and Xho I and the 1.9 Kb fragment was cloned into the Kpn I and Xho I sites of; 1, plasmid pGreen 0104 to produce plasmid pAPN1; or 2, plasmid pGreen 0229 to produce plasmid pAQN3.

Generation of pAPS3 and pAQS1

A clone of GSL-ELONG_South cDNA in vector pCR2.1-TOPO (Invitrogen), p10a (Max Plank Institute of Chemical Ecology) was digested with Eco RI and Hind III. There is an Eco RI site in the vector 27 bp 5′ of the cDNA insert and a Hind III site at nt. 315 within the cDNA insert. The resultant 342 bp (0.3 Kb) Eco RI-Hind III fragment was cloned into the Eco RI and Hind III sites of pBluescript II SK+ (Stratagene) to yield plasmid pAM1. Plasmid pAM1 was digested with Eco RI and Sal I and the resultant 0.3 Kb fragment was cloned into the Eco RI and Sal I sites of pJIT160 to yield plasmid pAO1. Plasmid pAO1 was digested with Kpn I and Xho I and the 1.9 Kb fragment was cloned into the Kpn I and Xho I sites of; 1, plasmid pGreen 0104 to produce plasmid pAPS3; or 2, plasmid pGreen 0229 to produce plasmid pAQS1.

Mobilisation of pGreen-Based Constructs into Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Preparation of Competent Agrobacterium tumefaciens Cells

Two strains of A. tumefaciens were used in plant transformation; strain GV3101 (Koncz and Schell (1986) J.

Mol. Gen. Genet. 204: 383-396) for Arabidopsis thaliana transformation and strain LBA4404 (John Innes Centre) for Brassica oleracea and B. napus transformation. A. tumefaciens was grown in Luria Broth (Sambrook et al., 1989) supplemented with rifampicillin (50 μg/ml) at 28° C. with shaking for 48 hours. Cells were harvested at 2000×g for ten minutes at 4° C. Cells were washed three times in 0.5 volumes of sterile 10% glycerol. Cells were resuspended in 0.01 volumes of sterile 10% glycerol, incubated at 4° C. for two hours, divided into 401 aliquots and stored at −80° C.

Electroporation of Competent A. tumefaciens Cells

Electroporation experiments were carried out using a Cell-Porator and supplied cuvettes (Gibco-BRL). Competent A. tumefaciens cells were thawed at 4° C. To 20 μl aliquots of cells was added, 50 ng pGreen-based plasmid and 50 ng pJIC Sa_Rep. The cells were placed in a pre-chilled electroporation cuvette and cells were electroporated under the following conditions; 330 mF, voltage boost 4 KW, charge rate fast, low W, 405V and 2.3 ms pulse time. Following electroporation 200 ml Luria Broth was added to the cells. Cells were allowed to recover for one hour at room temperature and then spread on plates of selective media (Luria Broth amended with rifampicillin 50 mg/ml and kanamycin 50 mg/ml). Plates were incubated at 28° C. for 48 hours.

RESULTS

Results were obtained by analysis of the inflorescence of transgenic plants of Landsberg erecta (Ler) containing the RA3 constructs. This construct contains a non-conserved part of the 3′ end of ELONG NORTH. More than 95% of the glucosinolates in the inflorescence of wild type Ler is 3-hydroxypropyl glucosinolate.

3-hydroxypropyl GSL μmol g⁻¹ dry weight

Ler (wild type) 10.2 ± 1.03 (mean ± sd, n = 3) Ler + RA3 5.6 (n = 1)

These results indicated in the transgenic Ler there is a significant reduction of 3-hydroxypropyl glucosinolates (p<0.01).

TABLE 1 Possible sources of novel alleles of GSL-ELONGASE for different length side chains. Side chain length Taxa →3C →4C →5C →6C →7C →8C →9C →10C →11C A. thaliana + + B. oleracea + + B. rapa + + B. napus + + Alyssum argenteum + + Hesperis matronalis + + Lepidium ovalifolia + Sibaria spp + + Arabis glabra + + Arabis hirsuta + + Biscutella auriculata + + Arabis alipina + + Arabis turrita + + Camelina spp + +

TABLE 2 Chain elongated glucosinolates found in Brassicaceae. From methionine Methylthioalkyl CH₃—S—CH₂—CH₂—[CH₂]_(n)—GSL n = 1-8 Methylsulphinyl- CH₃—SO—CH₂—CH₂—[CH₂]_(n)—GSL n = 1-9 alkyl Alkenyl CH₂═CH—[CH₂]_(n)—GSL n = 1, 2, 3 2-Hydroxy-3- butenyl

2-Hydroxy-4- pentenyl

Hydroxyalkyl

n = 1, 2 From phenylalanine

n = 1, 2, 3 From branch chain amino acids Isobutyl

2-Methylbutyl

TABLE 3 Aliphatic glucosinolate content of Columbia and Landsberg erecta and high and low transgressive Rl lines, and genotype at RFLP markers linked to QTLs. LOD scores > 2.1 are usually considered to be of biological significance. QTL-2/ Total QTL-1/CHR5 CHR1 QTL-3/CHR4 aliphatic LOD 11.4 LOD 2.6 LOD 1.3 GSLs p < 0.000* p < 0.01 p < 0.01 mean = SE mi433 g4026 m506 Columbia 21.0 ± 3.40 C C C Landsberg 20.4 ± 2.82 L L L erecta High trans- gressives 113 34.6 ± 5.96 L C C 177 30.2 ± 3.78 L C C 179 31.1 ± 0.88 L C C 209 31.0 ± 0.50 L C C 235 28.9 ± 2.95 L C L Low tran- gressives 13  8.1 ± 1.22 C L C 194 12.0 ± 0.56 C L L 237 10.8 ± 1.44 C L L 264  9.9 ± 0.72 C L L 390 10.6 ± 2.03 C L C *p values calculated from single marker analysis at closest RFLP locus

TABLE 4 Quantitative association between glucosinolates and ELONG genes. For each locus, D11 lines and BC, individuals can be divided into two genotypic classes based upon possessing one of two restriction fragments designated the + allele (ie increasing GSL content) and the − allela (decreasing GSL content). ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis mean ± se μmol g⁻¹ median μmol g⁻¹ Glucosinolate locus* p(normal)^(φ) − allele + allela F P − allela + allele H P r²% Oilseed rape seeds 3-butenyl + 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl E-N6 0.263 16.9 ± 0.58 20.0 ± 0.42 19.6 0.000 16.6 20.0 16.3 0.000 21.2 4-pentanyl + 2-hydroxy-4- E-N1 0.000 0.51 ± 0.08  2.2 ± 0.23 51.5 0.000 0.36 1.76 38.1 0.000 41.1 pentenyl phenylethyl E-N1 0.000  0.22 ± 0.021  0.41 ± 0.049 14.2 0.000 0.21 0.34 18.5 0.000 16.1 Broccoli florets 3-methylsulphinylpropyl E-O1 0.067  9.3 ± 1.07 17.7 ± 1.71 15.8 0.001 8.85 17.6 1.3 0.001 41.7 2-methylbutyl E-O1 0.048  3.1 ± 0.31  6.3 ± 0.46 15.0 0.001 2.53 4.62 8.6 0.004 24.6 *RFLP locus identfied with the diagnostic DNA probe. ^(φ)probability of normal distribution (Anderson-Darling test). 

1. An isolated polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide which catalyses a condensation reaction of a 1n α-keto acid with acetyl CoA, which polypeptide includes an amino acid sequence which has at least 90% amino acid sequence identity with the full-length amino acid sequence shown in SEQ D NO:1.
 2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is operably linked to a regulatory sequence for expression.
 3. An isolated polynucleotide which is fully complementary to the sequence of nucleotides 4047 to 4376 of SEQ ID NO:2 wherein said polynucleotide is suitable for use in anti-sense regulation of expression of said coding sequence and under control of a regulatory sequence for transcription.
 4. A nucleic acid vector suitable for transformation of a plant cell and including the polynucleotide according to claim
 1. 5. A host cell containing a polynucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said polynucleotide is heterologous to said host cell.
 6. The host cell according to claim 5 which is microbial.
 7. The host cell according to claim 5 which is a plant cell.
 8. The plant cell according to claim 7 having said heterologous polynucleotide within its chromosome.
 9. The plant cell according to claim 8 having more than one copy of said polynucleotide per haploid genome.
 10. A method of producing the cell according to claim 5, the method including incorporating said polynucleotide into the cell by means of transformation.
 11. The method according to claim 10 which includes recombining the polynucleotide with the cell genome nucleic acid such that it is stably incorporated there.
 12. The method according to claim 10 which includes regenerating a plant from one or more transformed cells.
 13. A plant comprising the plant cell according to claim
 7. 14. A part or propagule of a plant comprising the plant cell according to claim
 7. 15. A method of producing a plant, the method comprising incorporating the polynucleotide according to claim 1 into a plant cell and regenerating a plant from said plant cell.
 16. The method according to claim 15 including sexually or asexually propagating or growing off-spring or a descendant of the plant regenerated from said plant cell, said off-spring or descendent comprising said polynucleotide.
 17. A method of decreasing the level of 3 C glucosinolates in a plant, the method comprising expressing the polynucleotide from the vector according to claim 4 within cells of the plant, thereby decreasing the level of 3 C glucosinolates. 